Cape Verdeans went to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election that could make history by electing the country's first female head of state since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975.
Former Justice Minister Joana Rosa is contesting the election against incumbent President José Maria Neves, who is seeking a second five-year term. Six candidates are vying for the presidency. If none secures more than 50 percent of the votes, a runoff election will be held on November 29.
Rosa is backed by the opposition Movement for Democracy (MpD), which governed the country for a decade before losing the parliamentary election in May. Although women have occupied senior positions in the Cabinet, the island nation has never had a female prime minister or president.
Under Cape Verde's parliamentary system, the prime minister exercises most executive powers and oversees government policy. The president, who is directly elected, largely performs a ceremonial role but has the authority to veto legislation.
With a population of around 500,000, Cape Verde is known for its competitive elections and peaceful transfers of power, a political tradition that remains uncommon in parts of West Africa.
Nearly 77,000 citizens living abroad are registered to vote, accounting for almost one-fifth of the country's total electorate.
Roselma Évora, a professor of political science and gender studies at the University of Cabo Verde, said limited economic opportunities were prompting many young people to move abroad in search of better prospects.
She also noted that many voters felt disconnected from political leaders and wanted a president who could better understand the everyday challenges facing ordinary citizens.
Neves, who secured approximately 52 percent of the vote in the 2021 election, has pledged to work across party lines to improve housing, healthcare and education, generate employment and increase wages.
According to Évora, Neves has benefited from the greater public exposure that comes with holding the presidency, including among voters living overseas.
She said Rosa's candidacy was also challenging conventional perceptions of women's roles in a society that remains deeply patriarchal.
Rosa has made the need to maintain a balance of political power a central theme of her campaign. She argues that Cape Verde needs an institutional counterweight to the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), which supports Neves and currently controls the government and most municipalities.
PAICV secured a parliamentary majority in May, bringing an end to 10 years of administration by the Movement for Democracy. If Rosa wins, the presidency and the government would once again be controlled by opposing political camps.
However, Cape Verde-based writer Rosário Luz said political affiliations were likely to matter more to voters than Rosa's gender.
She observed that although women were well represented in politics, policies addressing their specific needs remained inadequate.
Women shoulder a significant share of household financial responsibilities in Cape Verde, but government policies have yet to adequately address the challenges they face, Luz added.