Cabo Verde: Government Admits Security Governance Failures, Pledges Modernization

During a State of the Nation debate, Cabo Verde's government acknowledged that the primary security challenge is no longer solely combating crime, but rather improving the sector's governance. Minister Carlos Sena Teixeira stated that reinforcing the state's capacity for planning, execution, monitoring, evaluation, and demonstrating results of public security policies is the true challenge. Despite positive trends in some crime indicators, this improvement has not translated into a better public perception of safety. Data reveals that 42% of the population still feels unsafe walking in their own neighborhoods, and 31% fear crime within their homes, highlighting a persistent gap between statistical improvements and citizen confidence.

The government's assessment identified significant weaknesses in security governance, including a lack of sufficient evidence of permanent monitoring systems, performance indicators, periodic execution reports, and effective accountability mechanisms. This absence hinders the state's ability to measure progress. Specific fragilities were noted in civil protection, where the National System has seven directors but no staff, despite a technical need for approximately 80 permanent personnel. Furthermore, there is no evidence of full operationalization of the National Emergency Operations Center, a resilient emergency communications network, or the fully functional national emergency line 132. Gaps were also identified in digital security, with no strategic plan for cybersecurity risk management and mitigation despite recorded incidents, and no structured policy for human resource management within the Ministry of Internal Administration.

Minister Sena Teixeira assured that the executive is committed to modernizing the sector, emphasizing that effective security governance now requires quality information, interoperability, data analysis, intelligence, innovation, technology, and anticipatory capabilities, beyond just personnel and equipment. In response, MP Paulo Rocha, a former Minister of Internal Administration, deemed the government's diagnosis insufficient without concrete measures for the coming years. He questioned the plan for implementing the National Police's Career, Functions, and Remuneration Plan and reinforcing personnel. Rocha argued that Cabo Verde already possesses a more operational police force and a safer society due to past investments, citing projects like "Cidade Segura" and "Táxi Seguro," and investments in Civil Protection and road safety. He urged the government to clarify its intentions regarding the continuation of these initiatives.