Who runs local government in Cabo Verde?
Cabo Verde, an island country, has one level of local government: 22 municipalities spread across nine inhabited islands. Each has an elected municipal assembly and an elected executive, the câmara municipal, led by its president (in effect the mayor). There are no traditional chiefs; local power is held by elected municipal bodies, political parties and the Catholic Church's parishes.
Republic of Cabo Verde · Unitary semi-presidential republic · Western Africa
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Municipalities (22) | Municipal assembly and câmara municipal both elected by voters every four years | Local roads, water and sanitation, urban planning, markets, some social services. |
| Parishes (freguesias, 32) | No separate elected body in most cases | Mainly civil and church registration areas within municipalities. |
Three questions about local power in Cabo Verde
Are local leaders elected?
Municipal assemblies and executives are both directly elected; most recent local elections were on 1 December 2024.
Which laws set up local government?
Local self-government is set out in the 1992 constitution and municipal laws. There is no customary authority in law.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Voters, the courts, and central government's legal oversight; the National Elections Commission (CNE) runs local elections.
Traditional and customary authority
There is no customary or chiefly authority recognised in law, and none of significance in practice. The Catholic Church is the main religious body and its parishes run social and educational projects. Older people and community figures are respected in villages, but they hold no formal role.
Community and neighbourhood power
Neighbourhood and village associations (associações comunitárias) are common; the constitution allows local authorities to work through residents' associations. Emigrant communities (in Portugal, the USA and elsewhere) also send money for local projects.
Points to know
- Santiago, the most populous island, has nine municipalities, while five islands each form a single municipality.
- There have long been proposals to create island-level regions, but by 2026 none had been set up.
- Local elections are competitive: in December 2024 control of many town halls changed between the two main parties.
Local terms
- Câmara municipal
- The elected executive of a municipality, led by its president (the mayor).
- Assembleia municipal
- Municipal assembly: the elected council that approves budgets and checks the executive.
Sources
- Constitution of the Republic of Cabo Verde 1992 (rev. 2010), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Cabo Verde: country profile (subnational government structure and finance, 2022 edition), OECD–UCLG World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment (SNG-WOFI), checked 14 October 2026
See also: Cabo Verde's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.