Cape Verde Municipal Leaders Demand Urgent Government Summit
The president of the National Association of Cape Verdean Municipalities (ANMCV), Fábio Vieira, is calling for an urgent summit between the central government and local authorities to be held before the end of the year. The proposed meeting aims to bridge the gap between national policy and local execution while deepening the country’s decentralization process.
A New Agenda for Local Power
“I believe we have all the conditions to promote this summit between the executive and the local authorities to reinforce dialogue and strengthen cooperation,” Vieira stated, as reported by Rádio de Cabo Verde (RCV). He argued that a high-level summit is essential to evaluate current progress, identify structural weaknesses, and define a new agenda for empowering local governance.
Vieira highlighted that the primary obstacle facing Cape Verde’s 22 municipalities is a lack of financial predictability. He noted that unstable access to resources frequently stalls municipal projects, making it difficult for local leaders to deliver on their promises to citizens.
Demanding Legislative Reform
Beyond financial concerns, the ANMCV president is pushing for a total overhaul of how the central government interacts with local councils. His proposal includes:
- The transfer of more duties and competencies to municipal levels.
- A revision of the municipal financial regime.
- New legislation regarding administrative oversight and local rights statutes.
Prime Minister Pledges Immediate Support
The call for a summit follows a series of consultations led by Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho. In his first major outreach to mayors since the PAICV’s victory in the May 17 legislative elections, Carvalho pledged to “immediately” resume stalled projects, including housing rehabilitation and support for the primary sector.
During these meetings, mayors presented a long list of urgent needs, ranging from the construction of kindergartens and sports facilities to the improvement of rural access roads and land-use planning. One of the most immediate commitments from the central government is the purchase of 22 new ambulances—ensuring that every municipality in the country has at least one dedicated emergency vehicle.
Funding the Future
Prime Minister Carvalho indicated that some of the most pressing municipal needs could be addressed through a 2026 supplementary budget. However, he cautioned that larger infrastructure projects would need to be integrated into the 2027 national budget.
While this first round of consultations involved only nine of the 22 municipalities, the government plans to continue meetings with the remaining mayors in the coming weeks. The proposed year-end summit would serve as the culmination of these talks, setting the stage for a more decentralized and efficient Cape Verdean state.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
