Cape Verdeans began voting on Sunday to elect a new president from six candidates, including incumbent President Jose Maria Neves, who is seeking a second term. Neves, a member of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, won the legislative elections in May. The election also marks the first time a woman has been nominated for the presidency since the country's independence from Portugal in 1975.
The six candidates include five men and one woman, Joanna Gomes Rosa Amado, a lawyer and former minister who is running under the banner of the Movement for Democracy party. The other candidates are Antirio Tavares, a judge and constitutional law expert; Casimiro de Pina, a lawyer and university professor who ran in the 2021 election; Gilson Alves, a surgeon and businessman who also ran in 2021; and Luisito Tavares de Souza, a teacher and civil activist.
According to the National Electoral Commission, there are 419,448 registered voters, including 76,383 living abroad. A total of 1,302 polling stations have been set up, with 1,059 located within the country and 243 abroad. The election is being closely watched in the island nation, which has a population of just over half a million people and a diaspora of over a million.
Cape Verde has a semi-presidential system, with a president serving as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The country has a reputation for stability, having never experienced a military coup since gaining independence. Its economy is heavily reliant on remittances from its diaspora, which provide a vital source of foreign currency.
The country's geography is characterized by an archipelago of 10 main islands and five smaller ones, with a total area of approximately 4,033 square kilometers. Located off the coast of West Africa, Cape Verde is one of the smallest countries in Africa. The election outcome will be closely watched by observers both within and outside the country.
The incumbent president, Jose Maria Neves, has been in office since 2006 and is seeking a second term. His main opponent is expected to be one of the five other candidates, although it is unclear who will emerge as the leading challenger. The outcome of the election will determine the course of the country's future and its relations with the international community.
The electoral process is being overseen by the National Electoral Commission, which has been working to ensure a free and fair election. The commission has reported that the voting process is proceeding smoothly, with no major incidents reported so far. The results of the election are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Key points
- The election marks the first time a woman has been nominated for the presidency in Cape Verde since its independence from Portugal in 1975.
