Cape Verde History

The Cape Verde Islands have a remarkable history. They were formed some 50 million years ago as a result of a volcanic explosion. The islands remained uninhabited until the fifteenth century when they were stumbled upon by the Genovese navigators Antonio and Bartolomeo da Nolia, in the service of the Portuguese crown.

Cabo Verde, meaning Green Cape, became an important logistical part of the Portuguese sea-borne empire. Its location was a virtual midway point between the Americans, Africa and Europe.

The colonial flag of Cape Verde until 1975

It was the transatlantic slave trade that put Cape Verde on the map, as it became a vending post for slaves. Africans were brought from the Western coast of Africa to the islands. They were sold on by middle men, privateers and slave traders who then crossed the Atlantic to the New World with their cargo.

The Cape Verde islands were settled by a small number of European traders and a greater number of Africans. Some had been brought over as slaves, others were traders themselves.
The majority of the white settlers in Cape Verde were men who had been banished from the Portuguese kingdom. They settled with African women, who gave birth to the Creole population. Until the mid 1800s the majority of immigrants to Cape Verde were men. By 1920, there were almost 2 women for every man in Cape Verde.

After the Inquisitions in the 16th century, it is thought that some Jewish Portuguese came to the Cape Verde islands.

Between 1580 and 1640, when the Castillians overthrew the King of Portugal, the Cape Verde islands were raided frequently by pirates. Black, white and Creole inhabitants were kidnapped and sold.

In 1819, Portugal official prohibited the sale and purchase of slaves North of the Equator. In 1835 there was a slave rebellion in Praia, Santiago. In 1843, the British-Portuguese Commission for the Abolition of Slavery established itself on the island of Boa Vista. This was done to monitor trade in the area. It became clear the end of slave trading was in sight and the residents of the islands began to look for other ways to earn money.

Slavery was finally abolished in Portuguese colonies in 1858, although all slaves were subject to a 20 year apprenticeship.

In 1830 (as in the mid 1700’s), Cape Verde suffered a devastating drought. More than 40% of the population perished.

Between the 18th and 19th centuries Cape Verde was an important port of call for whaling ships crossing the Atlantic to North America. The whalers often recruited Cape Verdeans on their voyages. Many of these new recruits went on to settle in New England, US. It is thought that as many as 100 American whaling ships passed through Cape Verde every year.

After the discovery of petroleum the price of whale oil dropped. The extraction of salt, which had once been a sideline of the Cape Verdean economy, became the main industry on several islands. A salt mine was established at Pedro de Lume on Sal. It became the largest salt mine in the world for a while.

In 1884, at the Conference of Berlin, European superpowers divided up Africa amongst themselves. Cape Verde along with Mozambique, Angola, Guinea Bissau and São Tomé & Principe became colonies of Portugal.

In 1936 the Claridade movement was created. Through its literary magazine, Claridade questioned the meaning of being Creole and Cape Verdean. It asked questions about the precarious socio-economic climate of the islands and the neglect by Portugal. The writers went on to become some of the most famous in Cape Verdean history.

In 1939 an international airport was built on Sal. This was funded by Italy’s fascist dictator Mussolini. During the Apartheid era South Africa was left isolated in international politics. Cape Verde was the only place which allowed South African Airways to refuel their planes. Cape Verde’s tourist industry was born when Sal became a base for the South African personnel to stay.

In 1946, the Portuguese secret police (the PIDE) founded a prison for ‘rebels’ and ‘anti-colonialists’ on the island of Santiago.

In 1951, bowing to international pressure, Portugal renamed her colonies as ‘Overseas Provinces’. All inhabitants of those provinces became full Portuguese citizens. In practice this changed very little in Cape Verde and it was simply paying lip service to other European states.

Between the 1940s and 60s, a small number of Cape Verdeans made it to Europe to study. They were influenced by revolutionary students from other African colonies such as Angola, Mozambique and Senegal.

During the 1960s, these Cape Verdean students began to explore the idea of breaking away from Portuguese rule. Alliances were formed between the different Portuguese territories. The most important of these alliances was that between Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau. This was forged by Amilcar Cabral, the Guinean son of Cape Verdean immigrants.

Cabral led the PAIGC (the African Party for the Independence of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde). In 1961 Cabral and the leaders of similar movements created the Conference of Nationalists from the Portugese Colonies (or CONCP).

The wars for the independence of Cape Verde were never fought on its soil, but on Guinea Bissau. Thus saving the islands from the bloody clashes which characterised Portugal’s other colonies.

In 1967, a Belgian built himself a small holiday house in Santa Maria, Sal. In the following years, as South African flights increased up to 40 a week, he also constructed the Hotel Morabeza. This hotel is still at the heart of the Santa Maria tourism industry.

In 1973, Amilcar Cabral was assassinated. Cape Verde finally achieved independence from Portugal, on July 5th in 1975.

The PAICV remained in power until 1991, when multiparty elections resulted in a victory for the MPD (the Movement towards Democracy Party).

In 2001, the PAICV returned to power, led by José Maria Neves.

The Republic of Cape Verde is a representative democracy in which the people elect Deputies (representatives). The Deputies vote on legislation. The government sits in the capital of Cape Verde, Praia.

The Cape Verde constitution, adopted in 1980, forms the basis of how the government operates. A new constitution came into force 25 September 1992. It then underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the President. A 1999 revision created the position of National Ombudsman (Provedor de Justica).

The President is head of state and is elected by popular vote for a 5 year term. The Prime Minister is head of the government and proposes other Ministers and Secretaries of State.

The Prime Minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the President. Members of the National Assembly are elected by popular vote for a 5 year term. Cape Verde has adopted universal suffrage with the right to vote given to everyone over the age of 18.

Cape Verde enjoys a stable democratic system. The Movement for Democracy (MPD) captured a governing majority in the National Assembly in the country's first multi-party general elections in 1991. The MPD was returned to power with a larger majority in the general elections held in December 1995.

In 2001, the PAICV regained power, with four parties holding seats in the National Assembly (PAICV 40, MPD 30, PCD 1, and PTS 1). Nationwide municipal elections were held March 21, 2004.

In January 2006, Cape Verde held a successful round of parliamentary elections, followed by successful presidential elections on 12 February 2006. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) judged both elections free and fair. However, the leading parliamentary opposition party filed a court case in an attempt to overrule the NEC on the grounds of alleged fraud.

The judicial system is comprised of a Supreme Court of Justice, whose members are appointed by the President, the National Assembly, the Board of the Judiciary and the regional courts. Separate courts hear civil, constitutional and criminal cases. Appeal is to the Supreme Court.

Cape Verde pursues a nonaligned foreign policy and seeks cooperative relations with all states. Angola, Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Portugal, Senegal, Russia, and the United States maintain embassies in Praia.

Several other countries, mostly European, maintain honorary consulates. In addition, Cape Verde maintains multilateral relations with other Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) nations and holds membership in many international organizations. It currently is working to accede to the World Trade Organization.

Cape Verde History -- last updated June 2008