History of Cape Verdean independence

History: Cape Verde

From Portugal's 1974 revolution through a PAIGC-led transition to independence and UN membership.

1 min read

Published

24 September 2026

Status verified as of

18 September 2026

Transition and independence

Following Portugal's April 1974 revolution, which opened the way to decolonisation across its African territories, Cape Verde's transition to independence was led by the PAIGC, which had waged an armed independence struggle jointly with Guinea-Bissau. Cape Verde became independent on 5 July 1975, with PAIGC secretary-general Aristides Pereira as first President and Pedro Pires as first Prime Minister.[1][2]

5 July 1975 · Declaration

Independence of Cape Verde, 1975

Cape Verde became independent from Portugal on 5 July 1975, following a transition led by the PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde) after Portugal's 1974 revolution.

United Nations membership

The Security Council unanimously recommended Cape Verde's UN membership on 18 August 1975, and the General Assembly admitted the Republic of Cape Verde on 16 September 1975.[3][4]

16 September 1975 · Recognition

Admission of Cape Verde to the United Nations, 1975

Following the Security Council's unanimous recommendation, the General Assembly admitted the Republic of Cape Verde as a member of the United Nations.

The 1980-81 break with Guinea-Bissau

On 14 November 1980 a military coup in Guinea-Bissau, led by João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, deposed President Luís Cabral; the coup was deeply resented in Cape Verde and broke the political unity the PAIGC had envisaged between the two countries. Cape Verde's PAIGC branch, under President Aristides Pereira, separated from the party and re-formed in January 1981 as the PAICV, which became Cape Verde's ruling party.[5]

1981 · Declaration

Cape Verde's PAIGC branch separates as the PAICV, 1981

A November 1980 military coup in Guinea-Bissau, which deposed President Luís Cabral, broke the political unity envisaged between Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde; Cape Verde's PAIGC branch, under Aristides Pereira, separated and re-formed as the PAICV in January 1981.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

Claim: Cape Verde became independent from Portugal on 5 July 1975, in a transition led by the PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde), which had waged an armed independence struggle jointly with Guinea-Bissau.

Shillington, Kevin, Encyclopedia of African History (Fitzroy Dearborn, 2005) , Cape Verde entry. Source record

Claim: PAIGC secretary-general Aristides Pereira became Cape Verde's first President at independence, with Pedro Pires, a former PAIGC military commander, as first Prime Minister.

Aristides Pereira (Wikipedia) link, Presidency section. Source record

Claim: On 18 August 1975 the Security Council, having examined Cape Verde's application for UN membership, unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that the Republic of Cape Verde be admitted.

United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 372 (1975) (United Nations, 18 August 1975) link, operative paragraph. Source record

Claim: The UN General Assembly decided to admit the Republic of Cape Verde to membership in the United Nations at its 2351st plenary meeting on 16 September 1975, following the Security Council's recommendation of 18 August 1975.

United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 3363 (XXX): Admission of the Republic of Cape Verde to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 16 September 1975) link, operative paragraph and meeting note. Source record

Claim: On 14 November 1980 a military coup in Guinea-Bissau, led by João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, deposed President Luís Cabral; the coup was deeply resented in Cape Verde and broke the political unity the PAIGC had envisaged between the two countries. Cape Verde's PAIGC branch, under President Aristides Pereira, separated from the party and re-formed in January 1981 as the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), which became Cape Verde's ruling party.

African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (Wikipedia) link, Split section. Source record