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NEW BEDFORD — The President of Cabo Verde spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people at Morna Lounge and Grill Thursday night as the nation’s soccer team prepares for its first ever World Cup matchup.
President José Maria Neves told the crowd in Kriolu that the advancement of the “Tubarões Azuis” (Blue Sharks) — as the team is known — to the tournament is a continuation of resilience on behalf of the people of Cabo Verde.
“In 1975, people doubted whether Cabo Verde was even viable,” Neves said, referring to the year the archipelago gained independence from Portugal. “It was an improbable country. But now we’re victorious. We’re a political victory. An economic victory. A cultural victory.”
Several local officials joined Mayor Jon Mitchell in welcoming Neves to the city.
“New Bedford is a special place in the great Cape Verdean diaspora,” Mitchell said in his remarks. “Cape Verdeans helped build this City and continue to build this city.”
Neves acknowledged to The Light that the Cabo Verdean diaspora’s history in the city, extending back to the 18th century, was a major factor in his visit despite the Tubarões Azuis first game against Spain is scheduled to take place in Atlanta on Monday.
“This is also a great Cabo Verdean city,” Neves told The Light in Portuguese. “Cabo Verde is not just the 10 islands but all these other ‘islands’ spread throughout the world.
“We are a global nation,” he added. “For this reason, we had to visit New Bedford.”
Other political leaders at the event included: At-Large City Councillor Shane Burgo, State Rep. António F.D. Cabral, State Rep. Stephen Ouellette, and Consul General of Cabo Verde in Quincy Octávio Gomes. Also present was Ed Pacheco, a Democratic candidate for the 9th Bristol District in the state House of Representatives.
Path to the presidency
Neves was born in 1960 on the island of Santiago in the municipality of Assomada, meaning he was a child during the nation’s war for independence from Portugal in nearby Guinea-Bissau.
His education through high school took place in Cabo Verde but he went abroad for university studies, obtaining a degree in public administration from School of Business Administration of Fundação Getúlio Vargas in São Paulo and a doctorate in political science from the Instituto Universitário de Lisboa in Portugal.
He worked in local government throughout the 1980s before joining the Partido Africano para a Independência de Cabo Verde (PAICV) in 1989. The party had split only eight years prior from the Partido Africano para a Independência de Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC) which led the independence struggle when leaders in both Cabo Verde and Guinea-Bissau decided to let go of aspirations to unite.
He was elected to represent Assomada in the National Assembly in 1996, before becoming mayor of the municipality of Santa Catarina — which includes Assomada — in 2000.
The next year, Cabo Verdeans elected Neves the nation’s fourth prime minister, winning three consecutive mandates. Throughout his tenure, he emphasized economic development, with the construction of dams to improve water access and airports. The crown jewel of this was the opening of the Nelson Mandela International Airport in 2005 in the nation’s capital, Praia.
In 2007, under Neves’ premiership, the World Bank classified Cabo Verde as a lower middle income country. He chose not to run for a fourth term as prime minister in 2016, citing interest in serving the country by other means. Many speculated he planned to run for president that year but he decided against it.
The center-right opposition party Movimento para a Democracia (Movement for Democracy) went on to win that year’s parliamentary elections with more than 54% of the vote. Ulisses Correia e Silva, the party’s leader, then became prime minister. He ran on a campaign to reduce unemployment, expand free compulsory education, and rejuvenate governance after 15 years of PAICV rule.
On July 1, 2025, the World Bank moved Cabo Verde to the status of upper middle income country. The PAICV won legislative elections in Cabo Verde in May and Neves tapped its leader, Francisco Carvalho, the mayor of Praia, to form a government on June 3.
A ‘Transnational’ Nation
In his words to The Light and to the gathering, Neves emphasized Cabo Verde’s diaspora.
“The Tubarões Azuis are an expression of a transnational Cabo Verde,” he said, adding that several players are from the diaspora. “And Cabo Verdeans in New Bedford have also made a large contribution … They have lifted the self-esteem and contributed to the success of the country, not just in the realm of soccer, but others such as politics, economics, and culture.
“Much of the strength of Cabo Verde lies in its diaspora,” he said.
In his interview with The Light, Neves also touched on some more serious topics, such as the decision by the U.S. government in January to suspend the processing of immigrant visas for Cabo Verdeans.
“Cabo Verde does not constitute a threat for the U.S.,” he said. “It’s a small country. A country that has strong ties with the United States going back many years.”
Neves said that his government continues to speak with that of the U.S. regarding such issues.
“Everything is there to have an excellent relationship that will facilitate a warm reception for Cabo Verdeans in the U.S.,” he said. “There is no reason for any impediment on the movement of Cabo Verdeans to the U.S.
“We must maintain a dialogue with the American government to convince it of the advantages of this movement,” he concluded.
Neves’ visit received loud cheers and applause from those in attendance.
“I feel he’s such a great orator,” said Darlene Spencer, president of the Cape Verdean Association of New Bedford. “He’s more than a politician just saying things. He has compassion for the community.”
He also publicly promised to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Cabo Verdean independence at the now under construction Cape Verdean Cultural Center in the North End. Spencer said she projects the project will be done by 2027.
“I’m thrilled,” Spencer said. “And I’m thrilled that he mentioned us.
Presidency
Neves returned to politics in 2021 after winning the nation’s presidential elections with nearly 52% of the vote. In Cabo Verde’s semi-presidential system, similar to that of Portugal, the prime minister holds most executive power while the president has reserve powers such as the veto or approval of legislation (generally in consultation with the prime minister) and is commander in chief of the armed forces. The president also works heavily in foreign policy, and it is in this sector that Neves has made his mark under the current mandate.
Since taking office as president, Neves has visited 11 countries, including: Angola, Brazil, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Switzerland. Much of this has focused on improving relations with the nation’s large diaspora.
“There are times when we have to make an effort to better connect these islands with the diaspora,” Neves said in an interview with Rádio e Televisão Cabo-verdiana in November 2024. “Cabo Verde is without a doubt a transnational country.”
In that same interview, he emphasized that better relations with the diaspora would help “achieve our dream to have a modern and prosperous country with more opportunities for all our children.”
Kevin G. Andrade can be contacted at kandrade@newbedfordlight.org.
