Cape Verde President Neves Arrives in Portugal for Key Talks
Cape Verdean President José Maria Neves has arrived in Portugal for a high-profile diplomatic visit, scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. The visit underscores the strengthening ties between the two nations following multiple high-level exchanges earlier this year.
High-Level Diplomacy in Cascais
President Neves is currently in Cascais to participate in the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. The forum, which runs through Wednesday, has drawn over a thousand participants, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and King Felipe VI of Spain.
A central feature of the event is a tribute to the late Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, who passed away in 2021. Neves will join other world leaders in honoring Sampaio, whom the UN described as a “central figure in building bridges between cultures and peoples.”
Building Bilateral Bridges
The diplomatic agenda is packed with key meetings. This evening, Neves will meet with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at the Cidadela Palace in Cascais. On Wednesday afternoon, he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro at the official residency in São Bento.
These meetings reciprocate recent visits to the Cape Verdean archipelago by the Portuguese leadership. Prime Minister Montenegro chose Cape Verde for his second official trip abroad in April, while President Rebelo de Sousa visited in May to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of political prisoners from the Tarrafal concentration camp.
Solidarity with the Diaspora
Beyond official state business, President Neves prioritized a meeting with the Cape Verdean community in Portugal. Shortly after landing in Lisbon on Monday, the President visited the family of Odair Moniz, a 43-year-old Cape Verdean citizen who was fatally shot by police last month—an incident currently under investigation.
Accompanied by Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Miryan Vieira, Neves expressed his “deep sorrow and support” to the family in person. The President also met with leaders of various Cape Verdean associations at the Cape Verde Cultural Center to discuss the concerns of the diaspora.
Image: Pexels – Werner Pfennig
