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Cape Verde President Jose Maria Neves has announced plans to run for a second five-year term in the country’s November 15 presidential election.
Neves, 66, announced on Monday, saying he wanted to use his experience in office to advance causes he had pursued during his first term and contribute to the country’s future.
“I will run for a new five-year term to put the experience I have gained at the service of the future, to champion causes I have pursued and which cannot be circumscribed to one sole election cycle and to build a victorious and prosperous nation”, he told a press briefing in the capital, Praia.
The president previously served as Cape Verde’s prime minister from 2001 to 2016 before winning the presidency in 2021.
Following his declaration, National Assembly President Janira Hopffer Almada will serve as interim president for the next two months.
Nine people have so far announced their intention to contest the presidency, although they must submit the required documents to the country’s Constitutional Court by Wednesday.
Presidential candidates in Cape Verde are nominated by individuals from civil society. Political parties can support candidates, but the president is not permitted to belong to a political party.
Neves has indicated that he is seeking the backing of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) which he previously led, while also calling for wider support.
Cape Verde, an Atlantic archipelago of about 520,000 people, is located around 600 kilometres (370 miles) off the coast of Senegal.
The former Portuguese colony gained independence in 1975 and has been regarded as a model of democracy in Africa.
Since its first free elections in 1991, Cape Verde has maintained relative political stability without electoral violence, including during periods when different political parties controlled the presidency and government.
Despite its political stability, the country continues to face social challenges, including poverty and youth unemployment.
