Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde

Data code CV

Government type republic

National capital Praia

Administrative divisions 14 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo,Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, SantaCruz, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Independence 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

Legal system NA

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991)
head of government : Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January1991)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister from among themembers of the People's National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election lastheld 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2001); prime minister nominatedby the People's National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro elected president; percent of vote - AntonioMASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%

Legislative branch unicameral People's National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular(72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results : percent of vote by party - MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD 6%; seats by party- MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1

Judicial branch Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Political parties and leaders Movement for Democracy or MPD [Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founderand chairman]; African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [PedroVerona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD;Social Democratic Party or PSD [leader NA]

International organization participation ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA CARLOS
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission : Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT (17 June 1996)
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16
FAX : [238] 61 13 55

Flag description three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (witha horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripeand extends into the upper and lower blue bands

NOTE: The information regarding Cape Verde on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Cape Verde Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Cape Verde Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.