The MpD party considers that the justice sector in Cabo Verde has made significant progress in the last decade, despite persistent problems. According to MpD deputy Carlos Monteiro, investments in human resources, infrastructure, digital modernization, and career development for professionals are signs of progress. The number of judges has increased from 64 in 2016 to over 80, and the number of active public prosecutors has risen from 49 to 85.
The PAICV party acknowledges the reforms carried out but warns of the slowness and high number of pending cases. Deputy Francisco Pereira cited data from the 2025/2026 judicial year, with over 14,000 cases filed in first-instance courts and 13,749 decided, which did not reduce pending cases. The PAICV also highlighted over 64,000 pending criminal cases, mainly in the Praia district. Pereira emphasized that delays can compromise rights, aggravate inequalities, and weaken trust in institutions.
The UCID party demands immediate solutions to improve the response capacity of courts. Deputy Zilda Oliveira questioned the judicial system's ability to respond to population needs, citing growing pending cases despite reforms and increased budgets. She pointed to procedural slowness, crime prescription, and failures in responding to vulnerable groups, including children, women, and people in vulnerable situations.
The debate on the state of justice took place in the National Assembly, with parties presenting their positions on the sector's progress and challenges. The MpD defends a multi-year investment plan for the sector, involving the government, National Assembly, and responsible bodies. The plan includes planning for magistrate and justice official recruitment, strengthening judicial inspection, and developing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The PAICV proposes several priorities to improve the justice sector, including modernizing the judicial system, reinforcing human resources, digitalizing cases, and improving criminal investigation. The party also suggests installing an Administrative Tribunal, strengthening judicial assistance, and creating Conciliation and Mediation Centers on each island to facilitate access to justice and find quicker solutions to conflicts.
Deputy Zilda Oliveira of the UCID called for immediate operational reforms and structural resource planning, seeking solutions above partisan interests. She emphasized that justice should respond effectively to population needs, protect citizens, and contribute to social peace. The UCID deputy also highlighted the need to address the concerns of citizens, who feel that justice is not functioning effectively.
The discussion on the state of justice in Cabo Verde highlights the need for continued investment and improvement in the sector. The parties agree on the importance of an independent and effective justice system, but differences persist on how to address the challenges facing the sector. The debate underscores the need for a collaborative approach to find solutions and ensure that justice responds to the needs of Cabo Verde's population.
Key points
- The MpD party defends a multi-year investment plan to address the challenges facing the justice sector.
- The PAICV party proposes modernizing the judicial system and reinforcing human resources to improve the sector.
- The UCID party demands immediate operational reforms and structural resource planning to improve the response capacity of courts.
