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Cabo Verde / Cape Verde - Government

Cabo Verde is a model for much of Africa because of its transparency and good governance. Cape Verde’s good governance and human rights indicators have earned the country important political and economic benefits. Since the beginning of its independence, Cape Verde strived for a democratic government. Cape Verde enjoys a stable democratic system. The Cape Verde constitution--adopted in 1980 and revised in 1992, 1995, and 1999, 2009, and 2010--forms the basis of government. The president is head of state and is elected by popular vote for a 5-year term. The prime minister is head of government and proposes other ministers and secretaries of state. The prime minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president. Members of the National Assembly are elected by popular vote for 5-year terms.

In 1991, the first multiparty elections in Cape Verdean history were held. Today, the Cape Verdean government is stable, with four parties sharing seats in the National Assembly. It has established market-oriented economic policies that are attracting foreign visitors, ensuring Cape Verde a strong service and tourism economy

Cape Verde defines itself as a democratic republic. The government structure has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The National Assembly constitutes the legislative branch. It determines the fundamental internal and external policies of the country and organizes and controls political, economic, cultural, social, and defense lines of actions. The National Assembly is directed by a steering committee composed of the president and four other members. Its members, Deputados da Nação, are elected through national elections every five years; all citizens may be candidates.

The executive branch is composed of the president, elected every five years, and the Council of Ministers, elected by the National Assembly from within the ranks of the party with the most seats. The president is the head of state and of the armed forces. The Council of Ministers is the executive and administrative body; it consists of the prime minister, who is the head of government, plus a number of government ministers and secretaries of state.

The judicial system is comprised of a Supreme Court of Justice--whose members are appointed by the president, the National Assembly, and the Board of the Judiciary--and regional courts. Separate courts hear civil, constitutional, and criminal cases. Appeal is to the Supreme Court.

Local government (Camaras) and both the private and public sectors play important roles in Cape Verde’s mixed economy. After independence, nationalization in the agricultural and industrial sectors took place, but free enterprise is now active and growing, and much of the land is privately owned.

The constitution was changed to remove state control from most sectors of the economy (except the central bank), opening the economy to foreign and domestic investment. At the same time, efforts were made to diversify the economy. Plans to develop local business products and services like tourism, fishing, and logistics were made. Development is limited, in part, due to a shortage of skilled and specialized labor; the small market size; and by the country’s natural high transportation costs, as an island nation with nine populated islands. This makes it difficult to achieve economies of scale and results in substantial transportation, energy, food, and water costs. Current electrical energy generation is insufficient. The government continues focusing on the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy.