Africa-Press – Cape verde. The year 2024 marks the centenary of the birth of Amílcar Cabral, a worker for the independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, but the celebration program is yet to be defined, overshadowed by the political tension in Praia.
The majority of the Movement for Democracy (MpD) “failed” in October a proposal presented by the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV, opposition) regarding the celebrations, alleging a question of form (due to the legal framework of the proposal).
The disagreement created a wave of discussion that continues in motion, with a petition underway on the Internet demanding the holding of an official ceremony, and the topic was yet another of those that motivated criticism from the President of the Republic regarding the environment of antagonism in political discussion. .
José Maria Neves said that the political field in the country is “very polarized”, with discussions that are “very shallow and without arguments”, considering that that debate, in particular, was “not very happy”; and that the proposal should be discussed beforehand, to avoid “slips”.
Subsequently, the Cape Verdean Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, promised “dignity and representation” in the celebrations of the centenary of Cabral’s birth.
A source from the MpD parliamentary group told Lusa that deputies are considering proposing an extraordinary solemn session in parliament.
The issue further inflames the already polarized political climate for an election year with local elections scheduled for September or October.
On a municipal scale, the national political struggle should be mirrored, for example, in the capital, Praia: the municipality is managed by PAICV, the opposition in parliament, while the current prime minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva (MpD), was once president of the camera.
Condiments for a debate also dominated by the comments of President José Maria Neves (elected with the support of PAICV), directed at the Government (with a MpD majority), and which marked political activity in 2023.
The head of state called for greater political articulation, especially in terms of foreign policy, and accused the Government of acting alone and bordering on “constitutional disloyalty”.
In the new year, the Cape Verdean economy should be boosted by investments from the multinational Vinci in the country’s airports and airfields, works that could have a multiplier effect on tourism.
The Government delivered the public airport service in 2023 and the objective of the international group is to “expand and modernize” the country’s four international airports and three aerodromes with an investment of 928 million euros over 40 years.
Improving infrastructure, with runway extensions, for example, to accommodate larger planes, with more tourists, could be a key factor in attracting new airlines and unlocking investments from international hotel chains in Cape Verde.
In the tourism sector, in another context, the São Vicente cruise terminal is nearing completion: the inauguration will take place in 2024 and promises to increase the number of cruise ships, reinforcing the tourist route.
In another sector, but also on the list of openings for 2024, is the technology park under construction near the capital, Praia, Santiago island, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) with around 45 million euros and which reflects the reinforcement public investment in this area of the economy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reaffirmed in 2023 that, in a country whose management deserves an overall positive assessment, revenue collection is one of the aspects that could be improved, reducing the risks of the State’s business sector – whose privatization calendar is in flux for 2024 as a focus of expectations among business groups.
While maintaining disbursements from the Extended Credit Line (ECF), signed with Cape Verde in June 2022, totaling 60 million dollars (55 million euros) over 36 months, the IMF brings something new for 2024.
In the first half of the new year, disbursements from the Resilience and Sustainability Fund (RST) should begin, which should add 31.69 million dollars (29.81 million euros) to the concessional support allocated to the country – in this case, The funds will be transferred as the Government completes projects related to the energy transition and resilience to climate change.
It is also in the climate area that another novelty in public finances for 2024 lies, with the creation of the Environmental Climate Fund, whose legislative process is in preparation, after Portugal kicked off its capitalization, with debt conversion of Cape Green.
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