Cape Verde Group to Track Local Election Campaign Promises
As Cape Verde prepares for local elections on December 1, a prominent watchdog group is launching a new initiative to ensure that political campaign promises do not vanish after the ballots are counted. The Cape Verdean Civil Society Forum (Forum-CV) announced on Thursday that it will meticulously document every pledge made by candidates across the nation’s 22 municipalities to hold winners accountable over the next four years.
A Digital Ledger for Political Accountability
The Forum-CV manifesto outlines a plan to create a comprehensive record of commitments made during the 2024 campaign. This record will serve as a monitoring tool throughout the 2024–2028 mandate, allowing citizens to track whether their elected officials are following through on their word.
“Forum-CV announces that it will proceed with the registration of all promises and commitments made by candidates,” the organization stated, emphasizing its role as an agent of vigilance and cooperation. By maintaining this registry, the group aims to transform the relationship between voters and local governments from one of passive hope to active oversight.
Addressing Housing and Urban Decay
Beyond tracking promises, the Forum is challenging candidates to adopt specific social reforms. A primary focus is the urgent need for “dignified housing,” particularly for low-income residents. The organization pointed to the rise of clandestine constructions in urban centers as a visible symptom of a housing crisis that local leaders have yet to solve.
The manifesto also calls for the implementation of participatory budgets in every municipality—giving citizens a direct say in how public funds are spent—and the creation of municipal codes of conduct to improve public space maintenance and civic respect.
Concerns Over Shrinking Competition
The upcoming elections arrive at a time of shifting political dynamics in the archipelago. Maria do Rosário Pereira, president of the National Elections Commission (CNE), expressed concern on Wednesday regarding a decline in electoral competitiveness.
This year, only ten organized forces (five parties and five citizen movements) are competing for seats. This is a sharp drop from the 16 groups that ran four years ago, where 12 were independent citizen movements. Pereira warned that this trend suggests a need to “strengthen the democratic fabric” to avoid setbacks in the nation’s governance.
The Stakes on December 1
Approximately 352,000 voters are registered to cast their ballots, with half of the electorate concentrated in the major hubs of Praia, São Vicente, and Santa Catarina.
The current political landscape is dominated by the Movement for Democracy (MpD), which holds 14 municipalities. The African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) currently controls the remaining eight. As the campaign intensifies, Forum-CV’s new monitoring initiative hopes to ensure that whoever wins, the needs of the people remain the priority long after the victory speeches end.
Image: Pexels – Edmond Dantès
