Foreign relations of Cape Verde


follows a policy of nonalignment and seeks cooperative relations with all friendly states. Angola, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, France, Germany, Portugal, Senegal, Russia, South Korea and the United States maintain embassies in Praia.
Cape Verde is actively interested in foreign affairs, especially in Africa. It has bilateral relations with some Lusophone nations and holds membership in a number of international organizations. It also participates in most international conferences on economic and political issues.
CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
30 June 2006
Both countries established diplomatic relations on June 30, 2006.
December 1975See Angola–Cape Verde relations
Cape Verde signed a friendship accord with Angola in December 1975, shortly after Angola gained its independence. Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau served as stop-over points for Cuban troops on their way to Angola to fight UNITA rebels and South African troops. Prime Minister Pedro Pires sent FARP soldiers to Angola where they served as the personal bodyguards of Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos.
  • Angola has an embassy in Praia.
  • Cape Verde has an embassy in Luanda.
26 July 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 26, 1975.
26 February 2007
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 February 2007.

Australia and Cape Verde are represented to each other’s country through their respective embassies in Lisbon, Portugal.
1975See Brazil–Cape Verde relations
  • Cape Verde has an embassy in Brasília.
  • Brazil has an embassy in Praia.
1976Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1976.

In January 2007, Manuel Inocêncio Sousa, Minister of Infrastructure, Transports and Sea, acknowledged the People's Republic of China's importance to Cape Verde stating:
"China has been a friend of Cape Verde even before it gained independence from Portugal 30 years ago. Bilateral relations have been very good: in 2002, for example, the trade value between our two countries reached US $1.8 million, in Chinese exports of light industry products and miscellaneous goods."
  • Cape Verde has an embassy in Beijing.
  • China has an embassy in Praia.
19 August 1994Both countries established diplomatic relations on August 19, 1994.

  • Cape Verde has an embassy in Havana.
  • Cuba has an embassy in Praia.
31 May 2000Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 31, 2000.

Czech Republic is represented in Cape-Verde by its embassy in Lisbon, Portugal
and an honorary consulate in Praia.

  • Cape Verde has an embassy in Paris and a consulate-general in Nice.
  • France has an embassy in Praia.
22 January 2010Both countries established diplomatic relations on January 22, 2010.
See Cape Verde–Guinea Bissau relations
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is about 900 km south-east of Cape Verde in coastal West Africa. Both were colonies of the Portuguese Empire and they campaigned together for independence with a plan for unification, but the countries separated after 1980.
  • Cape Verde is accredited to Guinea Bissau from its embassy in Dakar, Senegal.
  • Guinea Bissau has an embassy in Praia.
Hungary is represented in Cape-Verde by its embassy in Lisbon, Portugal and an honorary consulate in Praia.

After Cape Verde became a Portuguese colony in the 15th century, it became an important transit point for trade routes from Europe to India and Australia. The Embassy of India in Dakar, Senegal is concurrently accredited to Cape Verde. Cape Verde maintains an Honorary Consulate General in New Delhi.
Foreign Minister Jose Brito was the first Cape Verdean minister to visit India in November 2009. Minister of State for Rural Development Sudarshan Bhagat visited Cape Verde in September 2015 as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy. Bhagat invited Cape Verde to send a delegation to attend the third India Africa Forum Summit. Foreign Minister Tolentini Araujo Jorge led the Cape Verdean delegation to participate in the Summit in New Delhi in October 2015.
Bilateral trade between Cape Verde and India totaled US$4.20 million in 2014-15, declining by 40.72% from the previous fiscal. India exported $1.43 million worth of goods to Cape Verde, and imported $2.77 million. The main commodities exported from India to Cape Verde are drugs, pharmaceuticals, plastic and linoleum products, and man-made fibers.
IBSA provided a grant to refurbish a healthcare Centre in Cape Verde. India provided a line of credit worth $5 million to establish a Technology Park in the country. India donated $50,000 in 2010 to help the Government of Cape Verde to fight dengue fever, and supplied computers for the Government's "A New World" programme in October 2012. Citizens of Cape Verde are eligible for scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
A small Indian community resides in Cape Verde.

Indonesia is represented in Cape Verde by its embassy in Dakar.
July 1994
Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 1994.
11 July 1975
Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 11, 1975.
21 October 1992
Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 21, 1992.
28 May 1992
Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 28, 1992.
17 March 2016
Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 17, 2016.
1976
19 November 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on November 19, 1975.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on December 17, 2010.

  • Cape Verde is accredited to Mozambique from its embassy in Luanda, Angola and maintains an honorary consulate in Maputo.
  • Mozambique does not have an accreditation to Cape Verde.
5 July 1975See Cape Verde–Portugal relations
  • Cape Verde has an embassy in Lisbon.
  • Portugal has an embassy in Praia.
  • Cape Verde has an embassy in Moscow.
  • Russia has an embassy in Praia.
  • Cape Verde has an embassy in São Tomé.
  • São Tomé and Príncipe has an embassy in Praia.
  • Cape Verde has an embassy in Dakar.
  • Senegal has an embassy in Praia.
    • 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1975.
    4 April 1994
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 4, 1994.
    3 October 1988
    Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Korea and Cape Verde is 3 October 1988. In 2011 Bilateral Trade were Exports $1,140,792 Imports: $65,166.
    See Cape Verde–Spain relations
    • Cape Verde has an embassy in Madrid.
    • Spain has an embassy in Praia.
    1980Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1980.

    Turkey is represented in Cape Verde by its embassy in Dakar and an honorary consulate in Praia.

    Ukraine is represented in Cape-Verde by its embassy in Dakar, Senegal.
    See Cape Verde-United States relations
    The United States provided emergency humanitarian aid and economic assistance to Cape Verde in the period immediately following Cape Verde's independence, as well as after natural disasters, including a hurricane that struck the island of Brava in 1982, and after a severe volcanic eruption on Fogo in 1995. Cape Verde also is eligible for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and has signed an Open Skies agreement to facilitate air travel safety and expansion. On July 4, 2005, Cape Verde became the third country to sign a compact with the U.S. Government-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation ; the five-year assistance package is worth over $110 million in addressing rural economic expansion, infrastructure development, and development of the credit sector.
    • Cape Verde has an embassy in Washington, D.C. and a consulate in Boston.
    • United States has an embassy in Praia.
    8 July 1975
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 8, 1975.

    Multilateral Relations

    European Union