Joana Rosa: Cape Verde’s First Female Presidential Candidate
Joana Rosa is no stranger to breaking glass ceilings. As Cape Verde prepares for its presidential election on November 15, the former Minister of Justice has officially become the first woman in the nation’s history to appear on a presidential ballot.
For Rosa, this milestone is the culmination of a career defined by “firsts.” In 1996, she became the first woman to run for mayor in Cape Verde when she vied for the leadership of the Municipal Chamber of Maio, her home island. While she did not win that race, she later led the Municipal Assembly, a role she says allowed her to build deep, lasting connections with local communities.
From a Small Island to the National Stage
Born in Alcatraz, Maio, in 1965, Rosa’s roots are firmly planted in the soil of rural Cape Verde. The daughter of a homemaker and an illiterate farmer who later emigrated to support the family, she grew up understanding the hardships of island life and the bittersweet reality of the diaspora.
“My father was a hero,” Rosa told Lusa, recalling his determination to ensure his eight children received the education he was denied. “He always created the best conditions for his children to be different from him.”
Rosa took that opportunity and ran with it, earning a law degree in Brazil and pursuing several legal specializations. Her professional journey eventually led her to the halls of power, where she served as a deputy for the Movement for Democracy (MpD) and, most recently, as the Minister of Justice from 2021 until June 2024.
A Vision for Stability
Supported by the MpD, Rosa enters the presidential race at a pivotal moment. After a decade of MpD governance, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) has returned to power. Rosa frames her candidacy as a stabilizing force, arguing that the nation currently needs a “balancer for the system.”
While her status as the first female candidate is historic, Rosa is quick to point out that her gender should not be the focus of the voters’ decision. “No, I don’t want to be evaluated for the fact that I am a woman; the evaluation should be based on competence,” she said during her campaign.
A Record of Reform
Rosa points to her extensive legal curriculum as proof of that competence. A seasoned lawyer, she was a key figure in the 2010 constitutional review and served on specialized commissions for human rights, security, and state reform. As Minister of Justice, she oversaw the digital transformation of the nation’s judicial process. Her experience also extends internationally, having served as a consultant for the World Bank and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Looking outward, Rosa advocates for a strengthened relationship with Portugal and a more proactive approach to supporting the Cape Verdean diaspora. This is a critical demographic: of the 426,531 registered voters for the upcoming election, nearly 18% live abroad.
The Woman Behind the Politician
Known to the public as Joana—a name her father insisted on to honor her paternal grandmother—she is still known to close friends and family by her childhood nickname, “Celina.”
As November 15 approaches, Rosa is banking on her transition from “Celina” of Maio to the Minister of Justice to convince voters she is the right person to lead the country. Whether or not she wins, her presence on the ballot has already rewritten the rules of Cape Verdean politics.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
