Remarks to the Press
By the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel,
M. Mohamed Ibn Chambas

I have just concluded a three-day visit to Cabo Verde, during which I had fruitful exchange of views regarding the preparation for the parliamentary elections of 20 March 2016.

The purpose of my visit was to assure the Cabo Verdean people of the willingness of the United Nations to support and accompany the country during this important step in the country’s democratic journey.

During my visit, I consulted with representatives of national institutions involved in the organization of the polls, notably the National Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Court, and I met with members of the UN Country Team and diplomatic community. I also had the opportunity to exchange views with the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Internal Administration, and I was received by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde.

I have come to convey the confidence of the Secretary General of the United Nations, in Cabo Verde’s democratic system and its capacity to organize peaceful, credible, and participatory elections, as demonstrated several times over the years.

In all my meetings, I recalled Cabo Verde’s well deserved democratic reputation, with a track record of peaceful alternations, built on a commitment to the rule of law. I expressed my conviction that Cabo Verde will continue to lead by example.

We also discussed sub regional issues and threats to peace and stability, in particular extremism and terrorism in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin region, as well as piracy and drug trafficking. We shared concerns about the political stalemate in the sister country of Guinea- Bissau, and resolved to continue to work together, with the ECOWAS, the AU, the CPLP, the EU, and other partners, to promote dialogue, consensus building and national reconciliation.
The United Nations recognizes Cabo Verde’s commitment to the sustainable development goals and its pioneering efforts in the field of renewable energy as a key ingredient for the country’s emergence and socio-economic transformation. In that regard, I transmitted the Secretary General’s invitation to attend the signing ceremony of the COP 21 Accord on climate change in April 2016.

The United Nations will remain a trusted development partner to Cabo Verde and as such will continue its collaboration with the people of Cabo Verde.
At this crucial moment, we encourage the people of Cabo Verde to exercise their civic duty and right to vote by participating massively to the polls. We also call on all stakeholders to use established legal avenues in case of any dispute arising from the election results.

I remain confident that the upcoming elections will be participative, peaceful and credible, and will mark another milestone in Cabo Verde’s democratic consolidation and aspiration for sustainable development.

I thank you very much for your attention.

Praia, 10 March 2016