Guinea-Bissau’s PAIGC Hails PAICV Election Victory in Cape Verde
In a message of solidarity between historic liberation movements, Guinea-Bissau’s PAIGC party has formally congratulated the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) on its decisive victory in Sunday’s legislative elections. The PAICV secured an absolute majority in what observers described as a hard-fought race, signaling a major shift in the archipelago’s political landscape.
A Mandate for Change
The PAICV’s victory marks the end of a decade of governance by the Movement for Democracy (MpD). Early results indicate that the PAICV won 37 of the 72 seats in the National Assembly, granting them the power to govern without a coalition. The MpD, which secured 33 seats, has officially conceded and will transition to the role of the primary opposition party. The Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID) claimed the remaining two seats.
The PAIGC, in a letter shared on its official channels, stated that the victory “unequivocally reflects the Cape Verdean people’s desire for change and the renewed confidence placed in the PAICV and its electoral program, ‘A Cape Verde For All.'”
Solidarity Amid Turmoil
The message of congratulations holds significant weight, as it was signed by Domingos Simões Pereira, the president of the PAIGC. Pereira is currently under house arrest in Bissau following a coup d’état that disrupted Guinea-Bissau’s own general elections in November 2025.
Despite his confinement, Pereira extended his warmest wishes to PAICV leader Francisco Carvalho, wishing him “the greatest success in leading the destinies of Cape Verde in the coming years, for the benefit of the entire population of the archipelago and its diaspora.”
A Model for African Democracy
The PAIGC leadership lauded the Cape Verdean electorate for their “high level of democratic maturity,” describing the peaceful transfer of power as a “remarkable example for Africa and the world.” The smooth execution of the scrutiny stands in stark contrast to the political instability currently facing Guinea-Bissau.
With the results finalized, Cape Verde will now move forward with the constitution of the National Assembly, the inauguration of the new government, and a formal motion of confidence in parliament to solidify the PAICV’s new administration.
Image: Pexels – Mikhail Nilov
