Cape Verde Election: Voters Challenge President Neves
PRAIA, Cape Verde — As President José Maria Neves sweeps through the interior of Santiago Island seeking a second term, the cheers of his supporters are being met with a sobering list of demands from the people: water, jobs, and a roof that doesn’t leak.
During a high-energy campaign stop in Calheta de São Miguel, the 64-year-old incumbent was confronted by 74-year-old Nanda Oliveira. Her plea was simple but desperate. “I hope this man helps us get water to the stream so I can water my garden,” she said, noting that her livelihood had dried up because a critical water pump had broken. “Talk to the government for us. Don’t forget us.”
Neves, who has served as President since 2021, spent the day navigating a sea of handshakes and hugs, promising to use his office to bridge the gap between the citizenry and the government. While the presidency in Cape Verde is largely a representative role, voters like 76-year-old Arlindo Vaz view the head of state as a vital advocate for justice and economic opportunity.
“I expect special attention to justice,” Vaz said after greeting the candidate. “Beyond that, it’s about increasing employment and giving young people things to do.”
A Nation’s Anxieties
The concerns echoed across the municipality of São Domingos. Carvalho Duarte, 42, urged Neves to prioritize vocational training to keep the youth away from “the wrong paths.” Meanwhile, 84-year-old Maria Duarte highlighted the country’s housing crisis. “He has to look out for the poorest,” she said. “There are houses where the rain comes straight in. Mine is the first one.”
The calls for help also came from Cape Verde’s immigrant community. Aladje Baldé, a 28-year-old construction worker from Guinea-Bissau, asked for the President’s help in streamlining the arduous residency documentation process. “Cape Verde and Guinea are one people,” Baldé said, “but my colleagues have been here for a long time and still cannot regularize their situation.”
The President’s Promise
Speaking to reporters between campaign stops, Neves acknowledged the weight of these expectations. He identified the lack of water, urban decay, security, and the rising cost of living as the primary anxieties of the electorate.
“The President of the Republic can play an important, positive role of influence and inspiration,” Neves stated, arguing that the head of state must push local and national authorities toward necessary reforms.
If reelected on Sunday, Neves plans to launch “Cape Verde 2050,” a national forum to chart the country’s long-term future, alongside a youth convention involving both island residents and the vast Cape Verdean diaspora.
The Road to Sunday
Neves enters the November 15 election as a strong favorite. Historically, every Cape Verdean president who has sought a second term has been successful. However, he faces a field of five challengers, including Joana Rosa of the opposition Movement for Democracy (MpD).
With over 426,000 registered voters—including nearly 77,000 living abroad—the candidates are battling not just each other, but also voter apathy. In the 2021 election, abstention hit 52%. For voters like Nanda Oliveira, the decision to head to the polls depends on one thing: the hope that a vote translates into a working water pump and a better life.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
