The Independence of Cabo Verde: from the Diaspora to the Archipelago

Abstract The independence of Cabo Verde achieved on 5 July 1975 was not a straightforward process. From 1950s onwards, multiple anticolonial organizations having different ideas and interests challenged Portuguese colonial rule in the archipelago. Nonetheless, only the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde ( PAIGC : Partido Africano para a Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde) was recognized as the representative of the populations and gained access to the negotiations with Portugal in 1974. This paper aims to contribute to a greater understanding of how the PAIGC became a leading organization in the negotiations for the independence of Cabo Verde, sidelining other actors with alternative views for the territory.