Relationship dossier
Cape Verde
Western Sahara
Relationship assessment
Cape Verde’s policy shifted away from recognition of the Sahrawi claim
Cape Verde toward Western Sahara
-20Cape Verde withdrew recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in 2002 and has supported Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara.
Western Sahara toward Cape Verde
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Cape Verde withdrew its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in 2002 and has supported Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara. These positions indicate a consequential policy shift away from the Sahrawi claim. Information about the Sahrawi authorities’ specific government conduct toward Cape Verde is limited.
Areas of tension
- Disagreement over Western Sahara’s political status and the Sahrawi claim to independence.
Key developments
Cape Verde withdrew recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Cape Verde expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of Cape Verde’s subsequent official engagement with the Sahrawi authorities is unclear.
- Specific Sahrawi government actions toward Cape Verde are unclear.