Watchdog to Track Campaign Promises in Cape Verde Elections
As Cape Verde prepares for municipal elections on December 1, a prominent civil society organization is launching an initiative to hold politicians accountable for their words. The Cape Verdean Civil Society Forum (Forum-CV) announced on Thursday that it will systematically record every promise made by candidates during the 2024 campaign to track their progress over the next four years.
Accountability Beyond the Ballot Box
The Forum-CV manifesto outlines a plan to maintain a comprehensive registry of all commitments made by candidates across the country’s 22 municipalities. This database will be updated throughout the 2024–2028 mandate, providing a transparent tool for citizens to monitor whether winners translate their campaign rhetoric into action.
“The Forum-CV announces that it will proceed with the recording of all promises and commitments,” the organization stated, emphasizing its role as a watchdog for democratic integrity. The group expressed its willingness to collaborate with elected officials while remaining vigilant about their performance.
Housing and Participation at the Forefront
Beyond monitoring, the Forum’s manifesto challenges candidates to prioritize urgent social issues. Topping the list is the demand for access to dignified housing, particularly for low-income families. The organization pointed to the rise of clandestine constructions in urban centers as evidence of a housing crisis that requires immediate municipal intervention.
The Forum is also advocating for structural democratic reforms, including:
- Participatory Budgets: Implementing systems in all municipalities to give residents a direct say in how public funds are spent.
- Municipal Codes of Conduct: Establishing clear regulations to ensure public cleanliness and the preservation of communal spaces.
- Civil Society Vigilance: Strengthening the role of non-governmental actors in solving local challenges.
A Shift in the Political Landscape
The upcoming elections come amid concerns over declining political competition. This year, only ten entities—five political parties and five independent citizen movements—are vying for office. This is a sharp drop from the 16 groups that competed in the 2020 elections.
Maria do Rosário Pereira, President of the National Elections Commission (CNE), warned that the decrease in independent movements may indicate a “need to reinforce the democratic fabric” to avoid progress backsliding.
The Current Map
Approximately 352,000 voters are registered to cast their ballots, with the majority concentrated in the major hubs of Praia, São Vicente, and Santa Catarina. Currently, the ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD) dominates the local landscape with 14 municipalities, while the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) holds eight.
By documenting the promises made in the heat of the campaign, Forum-CV hopes to ensure that regardless of which party wins, the real victors will be the citizens who see their needs met.
Image: Pexels – Edmond Dantès
