Cape Verde Watchdog to Track 2024 Election Promises
As Cape Verde prepares for its municipal elections on December 1, a prominent civil society organization is putting candidates on notice: every campaign promise will be tracked, recorded, and audited over the next four years.
Accountability from Day One
The Cape Verdean Civil Society Forum (Forum-CV) announced on Thursday that it will maintain a formal “record of promises” for each candidate across the nation’s 22 municipalities. This digital ledger will serve as a monitoring tool throughout the 2024–2028 mandate, allowing citizens to verify whether winners are following through on their electoral commitments.
In a manifesto released to the public, Forum-CV emphasized its role as a watchdog. “The record will be maintained and updated throughout the mandate, allowing for the monitoring of the actions of those elected,” the organization stated. The platform aims to bridge the gap between campaign rhetoric and administrative action, offering its collaboration to those who take office.
Tackling the Housing Crisis and Public Ethics
Beyond tracking promises, the Forum is challenging candidates to address systemic issues. A primary concern is the lack of “decent housing,” particularly for low-income residents. The group pointed to the rise of clandestine constructions in urban centers as evidence of an urgent housing crisis that requires immediate municipal attention.
The manifesto also advocates for grassroots democracy through:
- Participatory Budgets: Giving citizens a direct say in how municipal funds are spent.
- Municipal Codes of Conduct: Implementing strict rules to ensure public cleanliness and respect for shared urban spaces.
- Vigilant Cooperation: Strengthening the role of civil society as an active partner in solving local challenges.
Concerns Over Declining Competition
This year’s election cycle arrives amid concerns over a shrinking political landscape. Data shows a significant drop in independent citizen groups: only 10 political forces (five parties and five citizen movements) are competing this year, compared to 16 in 2020.
Maria do Rosário Pereira, president of the National Elections Commission (CNE), warned that this trend could stifle democratic choice. “It may demonstrate a need to strengthen the democratic fabric,” she stated, noting that a lack of electoral competitiveness requires permanent vigilance to “avoid setbacks” in the nation’s governance.
The Electoral Map
Approximately 352,000 voters are registered to cast their ballots, with half of the electorate concentrated in the economic and political hubs of Praia, São Vicente, and Santa Catarina. Currently, the ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD) holds a majority of the local governments with 14 seats, while the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) holds eight.
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