Cape Verde PM Indicted on 26 Corruption Counts
The Cape Verdean Attorney General’s Office has officially charged Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho with 26 criminal offenses stemming from his time as the Mayor of Praia. The indictment, which also targets three of his former councilors, marks a significant legal escalation following a long-standing investigation into the capital city’s local government.
A Litany of Allegations
According to a statement from the Central Department of Criminal Action, the charges follow a comprehensive probe triggered by reports from the General Inspectorate of Finance. The Public Prosecutor’s Office closed the investigation on July 7, requesting a trial before a panel of judges at the Sotavento Court of Appeal.
Carvalho and former councilors Fernando Pinto, Kyrha Varela, and Jorge Garcia are accused of a wide range of misconduct between 2020 and 2024. The charges include:
- 5 counts of falsifying public documents
- 5 counts of abuse of power
- 3 counts of embezzlement
- 3 counts of undue receipt of advantage
- 3 counts of violation of budget execution norms
- 3 counts of crimes against the Rule of Law
- 1 count each of passive corruption, aggravated fraud, violation of urban planning rules, and defrauding public property interests.
The councilors face an additional count of aggravated fraud. Prosecutors have also filed a civil indemnity claim, seeking approximately 40.8 million escudos (roughly €370,000) in damages for the State and the Municipality of Praia.
Political Fallout and Defiance
Francisco Carvalho, who led the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) to victory in the May 17 legislative elections, resigned his mayoral post last month to become Prime Minister. He has consistently dismissed the investigation as a politically motivated attack.
Following police searches at Praia City Hall in December 2025, Carvalho accused the nation’s justice system of being “politicized.” However, Attorney General Luís Landim has stood firm, asserting that “everyone is subject to the law, whoever they may be, whatever office they may hold.”
Next Steps in the Case
While the country’s top leadership faces the Court of Appeal, the Attorney General’s Office confirmed that separate indictments are being prepared for other individuals and entities involved in the case. These secondary defendants will be tried in a court of first instance.
The Prime Minister’s office and the PAICV have not yet issued a formal response to the latest indictment. As the legal proceedings move forward, the case threatens to overshadow the early days of Carvalho’s premiership and test the independence of Cape Verde’s judicial institutions.
Image: Pexels – Sena Köse
