Watchdog to Track Cape Verde 2024 Municipal Election Promises
The Cape Verdean Civil Society Forum (Forum-CV) has announced a new initiative to hold local politicians accountable by tracking every promise made on the campaign trail ahead of the December 1 municipal elections.
Logging the Mandate: 2024–2028
In a newly released manifesto, the Forum-CV confirmed it will create a formal registry of all commitments made by candidates during the 2024 electoral cycle. This registry will serve as a permanent record used to monitor the performance of winners across all 22 municipalities throughout their 2024–2028 terms.
By maintaining this database, the organization aims to transform civil society into a vigilant watchdog, ensuring that “the search for solutions to the challenges of Cape Verdean municipalities” remains a priority long after the ballots are counted.
Key Demands: Housing and Governance
Beyond tracking promises, the Forum’s manifesto outlines several critical priorities for the incoming local governments. At the forefront is the demand for dignified housing, particularly for low-income citizens. The group pointed to the rise of clandestine constructions in urban centers as a symptom of a housing crisis that requires urgent political commitment.
The Forum is also advocating for structural governance reforms, including:
- The implementation of participatory budgets in every municipality to give citizens a direct say in spending.
- The creation of municipal codes of conduct to enforce urban cleanliness and protect public spaces.
A Shrinking Political Field
The upcoming vote comes at a time of shifting political dynamics in Cape Verde. This year, only 10 political forces are competing—five parties and five independent citizen movements. This marks a significant decline from four years ago, when 16 groups (including 12 independent movements) were on the ballot.
Maria do Rosário Pereira, president of the National Elections Commission (CNE), expressed concern over this trend. She noted that the reduction in independent candidacies represents a “decrease in the electoral competitiveness that citizens need to make choices,” suggesting a need to strengthen the nation’s “democratic fabric.”
The Stakes
Approximately 352,000 voters are registered to cast their ballots, with half of the electorate concentrated in the major hubs of Praia, São Vicente, and Santa Catarina. Currently, the ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD) holds the majority of local power, governing 14 municipalities, while the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) holds eight. The December 1 results will determine whether this balance of power shifts under the watchful eye of a more organized civil society.
Image: Pexels – Sora Shimazaki
