Cape Verde holds presidential election with six candidates

Cape Verdeans voted on Sunday, November 15, 2026, in a presidential election that could see the Atlantic island nation elect its first woman head of state since independence from Portugal in 1975.

Six candidates are in the running. Incumbent José Maria Neves is seeking a second term. His main challenger is Joana Rosa, a former justice minister and the candidate of the opposition Movement for Democracy (MpD). Rosa is the first woman to contest the presidency since Cape Verde gained independence in 1975.

Neves, who became president in 2021, previously served as prime minister for 15 years. He represents the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), which won 37 of the 72 seats in legislative elections held in May, ending a decade of MpD-led government. PAICV is described by Voice of Nigeria as the country's oldest political party.

Rosa's campaign has centered on maintaining a balance of power, arguing that the country needs a counterweight to PAICV, which backs Neves and controls the government and most municipalities. A Rosa victory would again put the presidency and government in rival political camps.

Youth unemployment and migration have been among the campaign's key issues. Cape Verde has a population of about 500,000, while a larger number of its citizens live overseas, particularly in the United States and Portugal. Nearly 77,000 Cape Verdeans abroad are registered to vote, accounting for almost a fifth of the total electorate.

Neves has pledged to build cross-party support to improve housing, healthcare and education, create jobs and raise wages. He has also promised to organise a youth summit if he secures a second term. Rosa has called for policies that would enable young people to build their futures in the country rather than continue to leave in search of opportunities abroad. She has said: "The government should make it possible for young people to build their futures here at home and prevent the continued exodus of young Cape Verdeans abroad."

Polling stations were scheduled to open at 8 a.m. local time and close at 6 p.m. Provisional official results were expected within two or three days. If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the votes, a runoff will be held on November 29 between the two leading candidates.

Under Cape Verde's hybrid parliamentary-presidential system, the prime minister directs government policy and holds most executive authority. The president's role is largely symbolic, although the directly elected head of state can veto legislation and plays a mediating role in the country's political affairs. Women have held senior Cabinet posts, but Cape Verde has never had a female prime minister or president.

Sources

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