The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Country Name
Conventional long form:Republic of Cape Verde
Conventional short form:Cape Verde
Local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
Local short form:Cabo Verde
Government Type
republic
Capital
Name: Praia
Geographic coordinates:14 55 N, 23 31 W
Time difference:UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National Holiday
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution
25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995 substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system
based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state:President Pedro Verona Rodriques PIRES (since 22 March 2001)
Head of government:Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2001)
Cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
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Elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2011); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
Election results:Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011)
Election results:percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%, UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, UCID 2
Judicial branch
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Political Parties and Leaders
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Jorge SANTOS]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Other:environmentalists; political pressure groups
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Fatima Lima VEIGA
Chancery:3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone:[1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
Consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Marianne M. MYLES
Embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia
Mailing address:C. P. 201, Praia
Telephone:[238] 2-60-89-00
FAX:[238] 2-61-13-55
Flag description
five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side; blue stands for the sea and the sky, the circle of stars represents the 10 major islands united into a nation, the stripes symbolize the road to formation of the country through peace (white) and effort (red)
