Cape Verde PM Denounces 26-Count Indictment as ‘Coup’
Cape Verdean Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho has struck back against a massive criminal indictment, labeling the legal action a “coup attempt disguised as political opposition.” The high-stakes political drama unfolded Wednesday, just one day after the Public Prosecutor’s Office announced it was bringing charges against the Prime Minister for 26 alleged crimes.
The charges date back to Carvalho’s tenure as the Mayor of Praia and include allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and embezzlement. However, the Prime Minister characterizes the investigation as a desperate attempt by his political rivals to overturn the will of the voters.
“Where Was This Indictment Written?”
During a defiant press conference, Carvalho suggested that the legal documents against him were manufactured by external political interests rather than independent investigators. “Where was this indictment written? At which consulting firm?” he asked rhetorically. “Answering that question will be a great contribution toward ending the hypocrisy and cynicism that have marked the governance of Cape Verde over the last 10 years.”
Carvalho’s party, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), recently ended a decade of rule by the Movement for Democracy (MpD) after winning an absolute majority in the May 17 elections. Carvalho contends that his detractors are now using the judiciary to achieve what they failed to do at the ballot box.
A Litany of Charges
The Cape Verdean Attorney General’s Office (PGR) detailed a sweeping case involving Carvalho and three former councilors. The investigation, which spans events from 2021 to 2025, resulted in charges including:
- Falsifying public documents and qualified fraud
- Passive corruption and receiving undue advantage
- Embezzlement and violation of budget execution rules
- Abuse of power and violation of urban planning rules
- Attempts against the Rule of Law
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested a trial by a collective bench of judges at the Sotavento Court of Appeal.
A Test for African Democracy
Despite the severity of the allegations, Carvalho maintained that he has “absolute respect for justice” and remains confident that he will be exonerated. He warned, however, that the legal battle threatens the country’s international reputation.
“At stake is one of the most respected, stable, and admirable democracies in Africa,” Carvalho said. “Those who insist on fueling instability weaken trust in institutions. It attempts to achieve, through other paths, what they could not win through the will of the people.”
The Prime Minister signaled his intent to move forward with his legislative agenda, noting that his government program and a motion of confidence are set for parliamentary debate this Friday. “The people responded to this ‘at any cost’ approach clearly at the polls,” he said. “I want to be equally clear: they will not succeed.”
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
