President Seguro’s First State Visit to Cape Verde Approved
Portugal’s Parliament gave its unanimous blessing on Friday for President António José Seguro to conduct his first official State visit to Cape Verde. The trip, scheduled for next week, follows an invitation from Cape Verdean President José Maria Neves and marks a significant diplomatic milestone for the newly inaugurated Portuguese leader.
Restoring a Presidential Tradition
By selecting Cape Verde for his inaugural State visit, President Seguro is reviving a tradition established by some of his most prominent predecessors. Former President Jorge Sampaio also chose the archipelago for his first official State visit in May 1996, which served as his very first trip abroad before traveling to Spain.
The choice reflects the deep historical and diplomatic ties between the two nations. In 1986, Mário Soares also prioritized the region, visiting Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe consecutively for his first State visits. More recently, President Aníbal Cavaco Silva’s first official trip in 2006 was also to the Cape Verdean capital of Praia for the inauguration of then-President Pedro Pires.
A Busy Start to the Term
António José Seguro, who took office on March 9, has maintained a high-paced international schedule even before this formal State visit. His first official trip abroad took place in April, approximately six weeks after his inauguration, when he traveled to Spain to meet with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
In the months since, the President has been active on the world stage, visiting Italy twice, Luxembourg, and the United States. He also recently traveled to Paris for a high-level meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron after an initial delay in the schedule.
Historical Context of First Visits
While Cape Verde is a recurring choice for Portuguese leaders, recent presidents have occasionally looked elsewhere. Former President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa broke from the Cape Verdean tradition for his first State visit, traveling instead to Mozambique in May 2016, though he maintained the custom of visiting the Vatican and Spain at the very beginning of his mandates.
The upcoming visit to Cape Verde is expected to reinforce bilateral cooperation and celebrate the long-standing cultural and political bonds between Lisbon and Praia.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
