Cape Verde celebrates 50 years of independence – DW – 07/03/2025
"Many say Cape Verde is a beacon for other African countries," says long-serving Cape Verdean politician Gualberto do Rosário.
"I don't believe in such comparisons. Undoubtedly, Cape Verde scores better than many other African countries in various indices," the former Prime Minister (in 2000 and 2001) and chairman of the current ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD) tells DW.
"But I think there is still much to do, and we should continue working to advance the country," he adds.
Cape Verde has scored well on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with figures above average compared to African nations. These 17 global goals — including poverty reduction, education, and health — are worldwide targets for 2030.
But according to Do Rosário comparisons with African mainland countries are only partly meaningful. He points to Cape Verde's history and geography: "Our islands were uninhabited and were only settled by European and African immigrants starting in the 1460s. That makes our development unique."
For him, Cape Verde's long fight against poverty and drought has shaped the islanders' will to survive and helped them progress even under difficult conditions.
Over the past five decades, Cape Verde has made remarkable strides — especially in education and healthcare.
António da Silva, a former freedom fighter and now Executive Secretary of the Civil Society Commission, which organizes independence celebrations, also takes a positive view. As a young man, he joined the rebel organization PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde), which fought against Portuguese colonial rule in Guinea-Bissau.
"In 1975, there was great poverty, which is now hard to imagine," da Silva says. The greatest progress, he says, has been in education: back then, there were hardly any secondary schools, and only a few could afford to move to the capital Praia to attend school. Today, education is widely accessible and considered key to social advancement. In 1975, 65% of the population was illiterate, while today that figure is down to about 3%.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The healthcare system has also improved significantly: in 1974, there were only 13 doctors and two hospitals; today, hundreds of medical professionals work across the Atlantic nation, where most islands now have hospitals.
Though Cape Verde ranks 90th out of 195 countries in terms of child mortality, which stands at a rate of 38 per 1,000 newborns, this is low compared to many West African counterparts. In Sierra Leone, for instance, it is 284 per 1,000; and 265 per 1,000 in Niger. Cape Verde's average life expectancy is around 74.7 years, among the highest on the continent.
The struggle for freedom has paid off, says da Silva: "In the early 70s, hardly anyone believed in an independent Cape Verde. But today, all expectations have been exceeded."
Despite progress, about 2.3% of Cape Verdeans live in extreme poverty — roughly 11,700 people. The government has responded with targeted social policies to support especially vulnerable groups. For example, the "Mais" fund was established in 2023, financed by a tourism tax, providing millions of Euros annually for social programs.
Migration is another pressing issue. Between 2009 and 2021, about 34,000 young Cape Verdeans left the country — around 6% of the population. Despite a rise in the monthly minimum wage from 100 to 154 Euros, many have sought better opportunities abroad. Youth unemployment in Cape Verde was around 23.9% in 2023.
"Migration is part of our culture," explains Gualberto do Rosário. "Almost every Cape Verdean has relatives abroad. Leaving and returning home is deeply rooted."
Nevertheless, he regrets the loss of many young, well-educated people. At the same time, many migrants remain connected to their homeland and contribute significantly through remittances.
With more than 500,000 inhabitants across nine inhabited islands and a diaspora more than four times that size overseas, Cape Verde today is among the most stable and developed countries in Africa.
"All Cape Verdeans — whether abroad or on the islands — are part of this wonderful nation that has been independent for half a century," says the former Prime Minister.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
8 hours ago
- DW
Russia: Is Moscow losing Azerbaijan as an ally? – DW – 07/03/2025
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have cooled following contentious arrests in both countries. Russia may be about to lose even more influence in the Caucasus. Last week, a police raid triggered a diplomatic crisis. Within a few days, the row between Russia and Azerbaijan had escalated, putting considerable strain on the already tense relationship between the two. It began with a controversial police raid in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on June 27. Several ethnic Azeri men were arrested as part of an investigation into crimes that date back years. The men are accused of carrying out assassinations and murders. Russian special forces clearly went in hard when making the arrests. Two of the men died, presumably as a result of the controversial raid. Baku reacted swiftly and strongly. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry condemned the "unacceptable act of violence" by the Russian security forces. All cultural events with ties to Russia were cancelled in protest. A presenter on primetime state television denounced Moscow's "imperial behavior" toward former Soviet states. On June 30, Azerbaijani authorities arrested two Russian journalists with Russia's state-funded news agency Sputnik Azerbaijan in Baku. According to media reports, the two were working for the Russian domestic security service, the FSB. The Kremlin was restrained in its response. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he regretted Baku's decision to cancel cultural events, stressing that the situation in Yekaterinburg "cannot and should not be a reason for such a reaction." The Russian foreign ministry pointed out that the dead and detained men, although ethnic Azeris, were holders of Russian passports. The following day, the Azerbaijani judicial authorities upped the ante by arresting more Russian citizens in Baku. They are accused of involvement in drug smuggling and organized crime. Photos from the courtroom show that some of the detainees appear to have been beaten. The men were identified on social media as programmers and tourists from Yekaterinburg. The spiral of reciprocal accusations continues to intensify. More Azeris have been arrested in Russia, in the cities of Yekaterinburg and Voronezh. Regional experts described the row to DW as yet another strain on the relationship between the two countries, after the Azerbaijani plane crash late last year. On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijani plane carrying 62 passengers and five crew was hit by a Russian surface-to-air missile. The tragedy occurred over the city of Grozny, where Russian air defenses were in action. The plane attempted to make an emergency landing, but crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau. 38 people were killed. The Azerbaijani political scientist and conflict researcher Arif Yunusov believes the harsh rhetoric in both countries' media since then is not a coincidence. In his view, information policy in both Russia and Azerbaijan is coordinated by government authorities, and bilateral relations are largely influenced by the personal feelings of the respective heads of state. Yunusov comments that, for the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, there was a personal dimension to the plane crash. A presidential plane was also flying over Russia at the time of the incident: In theory, this too could have become a target for the Russian anti-aircraft missiles. Furthermore, the first official representative to apologize to the Azerbaijanis was not the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, but Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Yusunov says President Ilham Aliyev was annoyed by this. "Aliyev didn't mention Kadyrov by name, but he was sharply critical, saying that it shouldn't be other people calling him," Yusunov explains. He believes that if Putin had been the first to call Aliyev, the public confrontation could have been avoided. Independent Caucasus expert Kirill Krivosheev agrees. "Putin only made a formal apology, and it was clear that Aliyev was far from satisfied," he told DW. However, Krivosheev emphasizes that recent events in Yekaterinburg were probably not initiated by the Kremlin. Criminal prosecutors in Russia have a logic of their own, he says. "They view all diaspora populations, including the Azeri community, as organized crime groups. It's a widespread trend among sectors of the Russian elite." Krivosheev believes the resulting diplomatic crisis is simply collateral damage. According to Krivosheev, the government in Baku is using the political escalation to reinforce its position on the international stage. "It's important to Aliyev that he comes across as a commanding leader who is able to say no to both Russia and the West." The Azerbaijani political scientist and member of parliament Rasim Muzabekov says Baku no longer sees Moscow as an external power in a position to dictate the rules in the Caucasus. He told DW that Azerbaijan had begun to develop its own military and energy infrastructures, and that this, in turn, had annoyed the Kremlin. Muzabekov says Russian media rhetoric toward Azerbaijan has become much harsher, and that Moscow is now trying to compensate for its loss of influence in the region by exerting pressure on the Azeri diaspora. This could have economic as well as diplomatic consequences — for example, in the energy market. "We shouldn't forget that Russia is under sanctions. And Azerbaijan has helped Moscow to get around these in certain ways," Arif Yunusov observes. "The European parliament has set up a commission to investigate whose gas is being sold to Europe, for example. Is it Azerbaijani, or it is in fact Russian?" If relations between Moscow and Baku were to deteriorate further, any such deal between the two countries would also be jeopardized. The MP Rasim Muzabekov adds that other bilateral projects are also under threat: the development of the International North–South Transport Corridor through Azerbaijan, and the project to synchronize the Russian and Iranian power grids. Muzabekov warns that problems transporting Russian gas through Iran could also not be ruled out. Nonetheless, economic interests are still important to Azerbaijan, says the political scientist Krivosheev. "Ideally, the Azerbaijani economy would like to steer clear of politics. But while Baku still has scope for action, Moscow has less and less leverage." Russia, he concludes, is losing influence in the Caucasus.
DW
8 hours ago
- DW
'One event' arms pause will be little comfort to Ukraine – DW – 07/03/2025
The US says its surprise pause on arms shipments is a one-off. But amid the turbulent US-Ukraine relationship, the assurance will offer little comfort to Volodymyr Zelenskyy or his European supporters. A US announcement this week that a batch of arms shipments to Ukraine would be paused is yet another reminder that the eastern European country's supply of advanced military equipment is not as secure as it once was. That's despite the US downplaying its decision to withhold crucial arms shipments to Ukraine, where a state department spokesperson told reporters it was a one-off. "This is not a cessation of us assisting Ukraine or of providing weapons," said spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. "This is one event and one situation and we'll discuss what else comes up in future." Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to speak with Donald Trump on Friday about the decision, however it comes amid difficult relations during the US leader's second term, stemming most notably from the globally broadcast falling out between the two leaders during a White House sitdown in early March. Trump confirmed in a post on his social media platform that he will first speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Following the disastrous White House visit, Zelenskyy sought to shore up support closer to home with key European allies. Europe has since stepped up their support in financial and supply terms. But if the US were to continue to withhold its support, it would significantly undermine Ukraine's position versus Russia. "If this were to be a longer-term issue, it would definitely be a challenge for Ukraine to cope," Jana Kobzova, a senior policy fellow specializing at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told DW. "Partly because some of the US systems are not easily replaceable, that goes especially for air defense, but also some of the longer-range capabilities which Ukraine has started to produce domestically but not in the quantities needed." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Among the American weapons due for shipping were Patriot air defense missiles and precision-guided artillery, according to officials speaking to newswires anonymously. The pause on these shipments comes at a critical time, with Russia ramping up weapons production and attacks. Those include strikes on soldier draft hubs in Poltava, the national capital Kyiv and port city Odesa and ground advances in key regions in Eastern Ukraine. Despite increased spending on defense from Europe's NATO members — now 5% of GDP following its June meeting — any long-term US stall on weapons will squeeze Ukraine and its neighbors. "There is recognition at the political level … that we would need to be increasing production, but none of that happens quickly enough for Ukraine," said Kobzova. Kobzova also pointed to investments being made into Ukraine's own defense industry to buffer against future supply line cuts from the US. Europe is now the biggest investor in Ukraine's domestic defense industry. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But even that might not be enough. Marina Miron, a defense researcher specializing in military technology and Russian capability at Kings College London, UK, told DW. She said despite the acrimony between Trump and Zelenskyy, the pause on shipments could be due to logistics, with the US potentially needing to weigh its own domestic supply needs against the support it gives to dozens of other countries, including Israel. Experts interviewed by DW highlighted the offer made by Zelenskyy to directly purchase armaments from the US, but, in reality, arms manufacturing is a time-consuming process. "It takes two years to produce one [air defense missile] battery," said Miron. "So even if you buy them now, it doesn't mean that they will be on the battlefield. You place a purchase order and you get in the queue." Finding a way to more effectively repair and adapt equipment for different missiles could be a potential stopgap to meet immediate needs. But, as defense supplies are again in doubt, Miron asked whether Ukraine has what it needs to push back Russia's offensive. "The problem is time and money and we also have the variable of people," he said, adding that about 90 people are needed to operate a Patriot air missile battery. And Ukraine, Miron points out, is losing people with no guarantee of replacement as the war grinds through its fourth year. Ukraine's support in Europe has been increasing — both rhetorically and materially. As it took over the presidency of the EU for the next six months, Denmark has taken the early opportunity to put Ukraine's membership application into the bloc back on the agenda. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday said the EU "must strengthen Ukraine. And we must weaken Russia." "Ukraine is essential to Europe's security. Our contribution to Ukraine is also a protection of our freedom. Ukraine belongs in the European Union. It is in both in Denmark's and Europe's interest." That's on the back of a visit to Ukraine from German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who branded Ukraine's plight Berlin's most important foreign policy task. But the signals from the US suggest to the continent that its tarnsatlantic ally is not the steadfast partner it once was. "There is a sober analysis both in Kyiv and the European part of NATO that relying on US military assistance to continue forever in Ukraine is not an option," said Kobzova. "And that has been there ever since March when the assistance was stopped for the first time." That view is echoed by retired US Army Europe Commanding General Ben Hodges, who said the US decision to pause shipments was not about stockpiles. "It's a choice of this Administration to placate Russia, at the expense of Ukraine," Hodges told DW. "It also shows the very limited understanding this administration [has] of the importance to America's strategic interests to help Ukraine and Europe deter Russia." Miron's also takes a pessimistic view on the US-Ukraine ties, even with attempts to entice Trump back to the Ukrainian cause. "Certainly you can try some diplomacy, and explain to Trump that Ukraine matters, but I think Trump has already made up his mind," he said. "Trump has much more to solve with Russia in terms of global problems than with Ukraine."
DW
9 hours ago
- DW
Middle East: Hamas seeks ceasefire guarantees – DW – 07/03/2025
The Islamist militant group Hamas is reportedly seeking guarantees that a US-backed ceasefire will lead to a permanent end to hostilities, as more Palestinians are killed in Israeli air strikes. DW has more. A United Nations expert on Thursday urged countries to cut off financial and trade ties with Israel and impose an arms embargo in response to what she called an "apocalyptic" situation in the Gaza Strip. "Israel is responsible for one of the cruelest genocides in modern history," said Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in a speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. Albanese was presenting her latest report which named more than 60 companies she said were involved in supporting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and military actions in Gaza. "What I expose is not a list, it is a system, and that is to be addressed," she told the council, calling for international companies to face legal consequences for what she alleged was their involvement in violations of international law. Israel's delegate was not present for the speech at the Geneva council, which Israel claims has an antisemitic bias, and has yet to comment. Earlier this week, however, Israeli representatives in Switzerland called Albanese's report "legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video At least 94 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and alleged gunfire in the Gaza Strip overnight and on Thursday morning, including at least 45 who were attempting to access humanitarian aid, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. According to the Hamas-run institution, at least five people were killed near sites linked to the controversial US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), while at least 33 others were killed at other aid-related locations. Elsewhere, the French AFP news agency, citing Gaza's civil defense agency, reported that an Israeli strike on a school building providing shelter for displaced people in Gaza City killed at least 12 people, mainly women and children. The Associated Press (AP) news agency reported that others were killed in airstrikes which struck tents in Muwasi, a sprawling zone where many Palestinians are attempting to shelter in tents. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Palestinian militant group Hamas is seeking "clear guarantees" that a new US-backed ceasefire deal would ultimately lead to the end of the ongoing war with Israel. The latest deal, which proposes the return of ten living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 more in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails during a 60-day ceasefire, has allegedly been accepted by Israel, according to US President Donald Trump. "We are approaching the matter with great responsibility," Hamas said on its Telegram channel on Wednesday. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who sits on the government's security cabinet, told Israeli news outlet Ynet that there was "definitely readiness to advance a deal." Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said most of his government colleagues back a Gaza agreement that includes the release of hostages. "If the opportunity arises, we must not miss it!" he wrote on social media. Two Israeli officials told the Reuters news agency however that details were still being ironed out. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stance that there can be no end to the war while Hamas remain in control of the Gaza Strip. "I am telling you: there will be no more Hamas, there will be no more Hamastan, we are not going back to that, it's over," he said in a speech in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Wednesday in remarks quoted by his office. "We will free all of our hostages," Netanyahu added. "We will eliminate Hamas down to its very foundations." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in the Middle East on Thursday, July 3. The Palestinian militant group Hamas says it is seeking guarantees that the latest US-backed ceasefire proposal will eventually lead to an end to the war with Israel. Meanwhile, almost 100 more people have been killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, and also reportedly near sites distributing humanitarian aid. A United Nations expert has descried the "apocalyptic" situation in the enclave and called on states to cut trade ties with Israel over what the UN expert described as a "genocidal" campaign.
