Joana Rosa: First Female Presidential Candidate in Cape Verde
Joana Rosa, Cape Verde’s former Minister of Justice, officially launched her presidential bid on Tuesday, urging voters to look beyond her status as the first female candidate in the nation’s history and focus instead on her professional track record.
Speaking at the National Assembly in Praia, Rosa addressed the significance of her candidacy while emphasizing that gender should not be the sole metric of her campaign. “It is the first time a woman is running for President of the Republic, but above all, Cape Verdeans should value competence and the candidate’s ability to deliver results,” she told journalists.
A ‘President of Proximity’
Rosa, 61, is positioning herself as a leader who will prioritize direct engagement with the public. Describing her vision as a “presidency of proximity,” she pledged to be a bridge-builder between the government and civil society. While the presidency in Cape Verde is largely ceremonial, Rosa argued that the office’s “power of influence” is a vital tool for fostering national dialogue.
She signaled a focus on economic concerns, noting that a president must remain sensitive to how global geopolitical shifts—such as rising fuel prices and international instability—impact the daily lives of citizens. “I am up to the task of facing new challenges, wars, and instability,” Rosa said, citing her experience in mediation as a key asset for Cape Verde’s international standing.
A Career Built on Public Service
Rosa enters the race with significant political weight. She served as a deputy in the National Assembly for two decades and completed two terms as president of the Municipal Assembly of Maio Island. Most recently, she spent five years as the Minister of Justice under the Movement for Democracy (MpD) government.
The MpD, which recently transitioned to the opposition following legislative losses in May, officially endorsed Rosa’s candidacy in August. To address domestic issues, she has proposed the creation of a national forum specifically dedicated to tackling the challenges facing Cape Verdean youth.
The Road to November 15
The upcoming election on November 15 will be a high-stakes contest. Rosa faces the incumbent, President José Maria Neves, who is seeking a second term with the backing of the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV).
The field is crowded with diverse challengers, including doctor Gilson Alves, jurist Casimiro Pina, judge Antero Tavares, and teacher Loisito Sousa. As the campaign intensifies, Rosa is betting that her “different platform” and decades of legislative experience will convince voters that she is the right choice to lead the Atlantic archipelago.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
