Cape Verde 2024 Elections: Tracking Campaign Promises
A leading civil society organization in Cape Verde has announced a new initiative to hold local politicians accountable by tracking every campaign promise made ahead of the upcoming municipal elections on December 1st.
The Cape Verdean Civil Society Forum (Forum-CV) declared in a manifesto that it will create a comprehensive registry of all commitments voiced by candidates during the 2024 campaign. This public record will be updated throughout the 2024–2028 term to monitor whether the winners translate their slogans into real-world actions across the nation’s 22 municipalities.
Pressure on Housing and Ethics
The Forum-CV initiative isn’t just about watching from the sidelines; it is demanding concrete action on the country’s most pressing issues. The group’s manifesto specifically highlights the urgent need for “dignified housing,” particularly for low-income citizens. The organization noted that the rise of illegal constructions in urban centers is a direct symptom of current policy failures.
Beyond housing, the Forum is calling for:
- Participatory Budgets: Mandatory community involvement in financial planning for all municipalities.
- Municipal Codes of Conduct: New standards to ensure cleanliness and the preservation of public spaces.
- Increased Vigilance: Strengthening the role of citizens as active partners in governance rather than just voters.
Concerns Over Shrinking Competition
The move comes at a sensitive time for Cape Verdean politics. This year’s elections have seen a notable decline in independent participation. Only ten forces are competing this year—comprising five political parties and five citizen movements—a sharp drop from the 16 groups that ran four years ago.
Maria do Rosário Pereira, President of the National Elections Commission (CNE), expressed concern over this trend, noting that the reduction in independent citizen groups represents a “decrease in electoral competitiveness.” She warned that the nation must work to strengthen its “democratic fabric” to avoid political setbacks.
The Stakes of the December Vote
Approximately 352,000 voters are registered to head to the polls. The political weight is heavily concentrated in three key areas: the capital city of Praia, São Vicente, and Santa Catarina, which together account for about half of the electorate.
The current municipal landscape is dominated by the ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD), which holds 14 councils. The main opposition, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), currently controls eight. As the campaign intensifies, Forum-CV’s new “promise tracker” aims to ensure that regardless of which party wins, the people of Cape Verde aren’t forgotten once the ballots are counted.
Image: Pexels – Element5 Digital
