Cabo Verde

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves. Most Cape Verdeans descend from both groups. Independence was achieved in 1975.

• temperate;
• warm, dry summer;
• precipitation meager and very erratic

• prolonged droughts;
• harmattan wind can obscure visibility;
• volcanically and seismically active

• overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion;
• demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation;
• desertification;
• environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles;
• overfishing

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

• strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes;
• important communications station;
• important sea and air refueling site

0-14 years:

44% (male 88,202; female 86,630)

15-64 years:

50% (male 95,079; female 105,928)

65 years and over:

6% (male 10,043; female 15,461) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.65 male(s)/female

total population:

0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Cape Verdean(s)

adjective:

Cape Verdean

conventional long form:

Republic of Cape Verde

conventional short form:

Cape Verde

local long form:

Republica de Cabo Verde

local short form:

Cabo Verde

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

note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts (Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau, Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal)

chief of state:

President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991)

head of government:

Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the National Assembly

elections:

• president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
• election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2001);
• prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president

election results:

Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro reelected president; percent of vote - Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%

• African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman];
• Movement for Democracy or MPD [Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and president];
• Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president];
• Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Dr. Oresimo SILVEIRA, president]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES

chancery:

3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:

[1] (202) 965-6820

FAX:

[1] (202) 965-1207

consulate(s) general:

Boston

chief of mission:

Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT

embassy:

Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia

mailing address:

C. P. 201, Praia

telephone:

[238] 61 56 16

FAX:

[238] 61 13 55

• three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue;
• a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

domestic:

• interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges;
• work is in progress on a submarine fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998

international:

• 2 coaxial submarine cables;
• HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
• satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total:

1,100 km

paved:

858 km

unpaved:

242 km (1996 est.)