Democracy Day is a public holiday in Cape Verde (or Cabo Verde), and it is observed on January 13 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the first multi-party elections held in January 1991.
Cape Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an archipelago and island country in the central Atlantic Ocean. The Portuguese explorers first found the archipelago in the 15th century.
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) was founded in 1956 with the aim of a peaceful campaign for independence. However, it turned to armed conflict in the 1960s.
The Guinea-Bissau War of Independence started in 1963 and lasted over 11 years. Guinea-Bissau unilaterally proclaimed independence on September 24, 1973, and gained full independence on September 10, 1974. Following the independence of Guinea-Bissau, on July 5, 1975, Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal.
After the 1980 coup in Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde abandoned the hope for unity with Guinea-Bissau and formed the new party of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). The one-party system ruled Cape Verde for 15 years from its independence in 1975 to 1990. The first multi-party elections were held on January 13, 1991, and the Movement for Democracy (MPD) won.
The following is the list of Democracy Day in Cape Verde from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Democracy Day | Jan 13, 2022 | Thursday |
| Democracy Day | Jan 13, 2023 | Friday |
| Democracy Day | Jan 13, 2024 | Saturday |
| Democracy Day | Jan 13, 2025 | Monday |
| Democracy Day | Jan 13, 2026 | Tuesday |
Please check more public holidays in Cape Verde: