Cabo Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, has a significant diaspora community that plays a crucial role in the country's economy, culture, and politics. According to Jorge Humberto Fernandes, a prominent voice in the diaspora, the community is not just a marginal aspect of Cabo Verde, but an integral part of the nation. The country's constitution recognizes this, with the National Assembly representing all Cabo Verdean citizens, including those living abroad.
The current law allows for six deputies to be elected from three electoral circles outside of the national territory: Africa, the Americas, and Europe and the Rest of the World. In the 2026 legislative elections, 72,051 voters from the diaspora were registered, but only 19,983 cast their ballots, representing a participation rate of 27.8%. This low turnout raises questions about the distance between formal citizenship and effective participation in the country's politics.
Fernandes argues that simply having the right to vote is not enough; the diaspora community needs channels to participate, influence, and contribute to the construction of public policies. He suggests that Cabo Verde's future may require treating the diaspora as an organized political subject, rather than just a recipient of public policies. This would involve creating a new institutional framework that allows for greater participation and representation.
One possible solution is the creation of a national institution representing the diaspora, which could be called the Parliament of the Diaspora or the National Council of the Diaspora. This institution would have a clear mandate, defined competencies, and the ability to intervene in public debates and policy formulation affecting Cabo Verdeans abroad.
However, there are challenges to overcome, including the question of who would choose the representatives of this institution. Fernandes suggests that a combination of direct election, participation from organized communities, and clear rules of incompatibility could be the way forward. The institution would need to be democratic, plural, and transparent to have legitimacy and avoid being dominated by personal interests or party politics.
The diaspora community is not homogeneous, with different experiences, generations, and relationships with the country. Any new institutional framework would need to recognize this diversity while maintaining unity. The concept of nation can play a key role in this, with citizenship not being reduced to geographic residence.
Ultimately, a new architecture for the diaspora could bring more voices, capacities, and resources to the country. It could also help to change the language of engagement, from simply talking "to" the diaspora to talking "with" them and involving them in national decision-making.
Key points
- The diaspora community is calling for greater political representation and participation in Cabo Verde's decision-making process.
- A new institutional framework could be created to represent the diaspora and allow for greater participation and influence.
- The framework would need to be democratic, plural, and transparent to have legitimacy and avoid being dominated by personal interests or party politics.
