Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Expresso das Ilhas
Published on 2024-03-25 09:05:33
A delegation from the US Senate classified Cape Verde, this Sunday, as a shining example of democracy in Africa, especially in light of the coups that have occurred in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which the country is a part.
“We had a great conversation with the Prime Minister about the values we share,” said Senator Patty Murray, leader of the delegation, who was received today on the island of Sal by the Cape Verdean Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva.
Patty Murray, at the beginning of a tour of five countries in Africa, considered it “important to continue cooperation” with the archipelago.
The visit took place at a time when the government is preparing, with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a development aid agency established by the US Congress, to access a third financial support package from the institution for the country.
Cape Verde was announced by the MCC as an eligible country in December 2023, along with Tanzania and the Philippines.
Senator Chris Coons, who also participated in the delegation that met with Ulisses Correia e Silva, expressed hopes that the support will materialize, making Cape Verde the first country to benefit from three MCC support packages.
Chris Coons pointed out that the ECOWAS “witnessed many coups” in the last year, making it important “to have a stable democracy” like Cape Verde’s.
The agenda of the US Senate delegation included a meeting with members of the New Hampshire National Guard, USA, who are participating in a joint exercise on medical transfers with the Cape Verdean Armed Forces.
The first MCC financing, between 2005 and 2010, amounted to 84.6 million euros and was used to modernize the country’s infrastructure.
Two years later, a second package, worth 50.9 million euros, was in effect until 2017 to improve water resource management, sanitation, and property management services.
In ECOWAS, there are four countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry, and Niger) governed by the military since 2020, following coups d’état.
Read the original article(Portuguese) on Expresso das Ilhas
