Cape Verde President José Maria Neves will seek a second term in the country’s November election.
The Cape Verde presidential election will take place on November 15.
Neves announced his decision on Monday. The 66-year-old has served as president since 2021.
Before becoming president, he served as Cape Verde’s prime minister from 2001 to 2016.
Cape Verde presidential election set for November
Neves said he wants to use the experience gained during his first term to help shape the country’s future.
However, he will face competition.
Africanews, citing AFP, reported that nine people have already announced plans to run for president.
Potential candidates must submit the required documents to Cape Verde’s Constitutional Court before they can officially contest the election.
Political parties can support presidential candidates. However, the president cannot belong to a political party while in office.
Neves previously led the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, known as PAICV.
He is seeking support from the party ahead of the election. At the same time, he has called for broader backing.
Interim president takes office
Meanwhile, National Assembly President Janira Hopffer Almada will serve as interim president.
According to AFP, she will hold the position for the next two months following Neves’s announcement.
The country will now prepare for the November vote.
Cape Verde has long record of peaceful elections
Cape Verde is an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean. It lies about 600 kilometres off the African coast and has around 520,000 people.
The country was a Portuguese colony until gaining independence in 1975.
Cape Verde held its first free elections in 1991.
Since then, the country has experienced periods when different political forces controlled the presidency and government. However, these periods did not result in electoral violence, according to AFP.
Still, Cape Verde faces several social and economic challenges. These include poverty and youth unemployment.
The Cape Verde presidential election in November will determine whether Neves serves another five-year term.