The Government of Cape Verde

Cape Verde - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Cape Verde, it was the name derives from the Cape Verde (Green Cape) peninsula on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, São Filipe, São Lourenco dos Orgaos, São Miguel, São Salvador do Mundo, São Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de São Nicolau

National symbols

Ten five-pointed yellow stars.

The flag

The National flag of Cape Verde has five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue -- equal to half the width of the flag -- is followed by three narrow bands of white, red, and white, and a bottom stripe of blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the red stripe and sits toward the left side of the flag; blue stands for the sea and sky; the stripes symbolize the country's formation through peace (white) and effort (red); the circle of stars represents the 10 major islands.

The National Anthem

Title	"Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)
Lyric/music	Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA

note: adopted 1996

More about the government of Cape Verde

Constitution
Date of Independence	5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday	Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Legal system	civil law system of Portugal
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992
Amendment process	Proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde
Dual citizenship recognized	yes
Residency requirement for naturalization	5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021)
Head of government	Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016)
Cabinet	Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections/appointments	president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 October 2021 (next to be held in October 2026); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
Election results	2020: Jose Maria Pereira NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (PAICV) 51.7%, Carlos VEIGA (MPD) 42.4%, Casimiro DE PINA (independent) 1.8%, Fernando Rocha DELGADO (independent) 1.4%, Helio SANCHES (independent) 1.14%, Gilson ALVES (independent) 0.8%, Joaquim MONTEIRO (independent) 3.4% 2016: Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74.1%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 22.5%, other 3.4%
Legislative branch
Legislature name	National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
Legislative structure	Unicameral
Number of seats	72 (all directly elected)
Electoral system	Proportional representation
Scope of elections	Full renewal
Term in office	5 years
Most recent election date	4/18/2021
Parties elected and seats per party	Movement for Democracy (MpD) (38); African Party for the Independence of Cabo Verde (PAICV) (30); Union for an Independent Democratic Cape Verde (UCID) (4)
Percentage of women in chamber	44.4%
Expected date of next election	April 2026
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 7 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and administrative sections)
Judge selection and term of office	Judge appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Superior Judicial Council (SJC), a 16-member independent body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general, 8 private citizens, 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, the senior legal inspector of the Attorney General's office, and a representative of the Ministry of Justice; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court of Justice and in consultation with the SJC; judges appointed for life
Subordinate courts	Appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020)
Chancery	3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Telephone	[1] (202) 965-6820
FAX	[1] (202) 965-1207
Email address and website	embassy.wdc@mnec.gov.cv https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/
Consulate(s) general	Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Jennifer ADAMS (since 10 September 2024)
Embassy	Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia
Mailing address	2460 Praia Place, Washington DC 20521-2460
Telephone	[238] 260-8900
FAX	[238] 261-1355
Email address and website	PraiaConsular@state.gov https://cv.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Cidade Velha; Historic Center of Ribeira Grande