Cabo Verde 2020 Crime & Safety Report

This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Praia. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Cabo Verde. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Cabo Verde country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.

Travel Advisory

The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Cabo Verde at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

Crime Threats

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Praia as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Most crimes in Cabo Verde seek financial gain (e.g. pickpocketing, burglary, and armed robbery), inspired in part by high unemployment and the growing drug trade throughout the islands. Many crimes involve groups of youth who, by national law, are immune from prosecution until they reach 16 years of age. Authorities detain those in conflict with the law who are aged 12-16 in a juvenile detention center.Muggings occur often, particularly at night and in more isolated areas, and often involve violence. The perpetrators are predominantly males between the ages of 14 and 25 operating in groups of two or more.

Praia experienced a tremendous decrease in crime during 2018, followed by another in 2019, based on official crime statistics. On the island of Santiago, where Praia is located, the most common crimes against persons such as muggings, armed robbery, and burglary declined from 3,876 cases in 2018 to 3,210 in 2019. Nationwide, homicide remained relatively stable in 2019: in 2018, Cabo Verde registered 37 cases of homicide; in 2019, there were 34. The island of Santiago reported 24 cases of homicide in 2019, an increase of 5 cases compared with 2018. Praia reported 18 cases of homicide in 2019, an increase of 6 from 2018. Praia still the most dangerous city of Cabo Verde.

Cobe Verde implemented the “Safe City” video surveillance program, financed by China, in Praia in 2018, with the second phase in 2019 including the islands of São Vicente, Sal, and Boa Vista. Authorities link the reduction in crime in Praia, in part, to this new project, and claim it has increased their ability to not only deter but also solve crimes. Citizens doubt the efficacy of the program.

A large amount of street crime goes unreported and is not included in official statistics. Many locals see reporting street crime, such as muggings, as a waste of time and effort due to the low probability that police will identify and apprehend culprits and return stolen belongings. Overall crime levels in Praia remain a concern for locals, U.S. government personnel, and foreigners.

Crime is becoming more violent. The use of firearms in the commission of crimes used to be rare, but is becoming more prevalent. Although the law requires special permission to own or possess a firearm, the availability of firearms has increased along with their use in crime.

In Praia, the Sucupira (outdoor market) and Fazenda areas are especially prone to pickpocketing, muggings, and purse snatchings. Exercise great care in daylight and avoid each at night, especially if traveling alone. Due to inadequate lighting in many public areas, be especially vigilant after dark, carry a flashlight to illuminate your path, and never go out alone. Lock vehicle doors and keep windows up, and avoid isolated places. Take similar precautions when visiting the areas surrounding the beach resorts on the islands of Maio, Boa Vista, and Sal. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind.

In 2019, two incidents affected U.S. Mission personnel.

• In February, an English Language Fellow was the victim of robbery while walking near U.S. embassy residences. The incident occurred during daylight hours, and did not cause injury. The assailant, armed with a large rock, snatched the victim’s bag, and ran off.
• Also in February, two unarmed children around the age of 13 grabbed the mobile device of a U.S. Embassy employee walking along a jogger’s path adjacent to embassy residences. The incident occurred during daylight hours, and no injuries resulted.

Other notable incidents that underscore the prevalence of opportunistic and violent crime include:

• In July, the Mayor of Praia survived a gunshot wound after two men confronted him outside of a local gym. The gym is in an affluent neighborhood within 200 yards of several embassy residences. To date, authorities have not arrested any suspects.
• In September, thieves broke into a U.S. embassy residence and stole items including a television and other electronics. The incident occurred during daylight, while the residence was unoccupied. The thieves circumvented several security features, including walls, concertina wire, and door locks to gain entry to the home. Review OSAC’s reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security.
• In February, a U.S. embassy employee was the victim of assault while walking home during daylight hours. The assailant tried to steal a purse the victim was wearing across her body. The attempt was unsuccessful, but the victim sustained minor injuries, and the assailant got away. A similar incident occurred in February 2017, when a U.S. embassy employee was the victim of assault while walking home during daylight hours. The assailant tried to steal the victim’s backpack. When the assailant was unable to remove the item, he picked up a piece of a concrete block, threatening the victim. A local police unit observed the incident and intervened.

Review OSAC’s reports, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit.

Cybersecurity Issues

U.S. citizens in Cabo Verde experience few to no problems relating to cybersecurity. The Embassy received no reports of credit card skimming or other related cyber or computer-based crime during 2019.

Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband?

Transportation-Safety Situation

Road Safety and Road Conditions

Roads in Praia are typically in good condition. A fair portion of the roads in Praia are asphalt or cobblestone. Streets are narrow in downtown areas; exercise caution while driving or crossing streets. Motorists are typically courteous, but their behavior can be erratic, and they may not abide by Western-style rules of the road. Taxis, buses, and private vehicles will regularly stop in the middle of a road without warning. Traffic collisions also pose great risk to residents and visitors due to the delayed response time of emergency responders. Praia has limited medical resources to treat traumatic injuries. Always wear seatbelts, be attentive, and drive defensively.

In the outer areas, roads may be less developed; the ability to find aid, if broken down, diminishes significantly. Excessive speeds on narrow, curving roads outside of Praia pose great danger to motorists. Most of the national highways are in good repair, but other routes are cobblestone or dirt, and can be extremely dangerous during rain. In rural areas, livestock have free rein, making driving hazardous, especially at night with reduced visibility. Collisions between motorists and livestock happen several times each year.

Roads throughout Cabo Verde generally lack lighting. Even those roads with streetlights experience regular blackouts.

Rainfall is another potential hazard for motorists. During heavy rain, streets will often flood. Fast moving water can sweep away vehicles, destroy sections of roads, and even wash out bridges.

Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.

Public Transportation Conditions

Praia has three principal modes of public transport: taxi, bus, and commuter van. While the U.S. Government does not prohibit its employees from using any form of public transport, it discourages using buses and vans. The most common commuter van is a Toyota Hiace. These vans may have fixed but flexible routes, and always try to operate at full capacity. Often, these vans are over-occupied, posing safety concerns. Taxis are the recommended form of public transport. Licensed, registered taxis have clear markings and are tan/cream in color. While official taxis are safe and reliable, exercise good common sense and avoid sharing a taxi with strangers.

The Embassy emphasizes the dangers of using hillside stairways connecting neighborhoods in Praia. Although these stairways provide convenient shortcuts through hilly terrain, they also isolate users and leave them more vulnerable to assault, even in broad daylight.

Review OSAC’s report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.

Aviation/Airport Conditions

There are no specific safety concerns for the Nelson Mandela International airport in Praia (RAI). Inter-island flights are safe, but flight schedules can be unpredictable, with frequent delays and unannounced cancelations. 

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Cabo Verde’s Civil Aviation Authority as compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Cabo Verde’s air carrier operations.

Maritime Transport Conditions

Ferry service connects several islands. Maritime transportation is safe, but schedules can be unpredictable, with delays and occasional cancellations. The seas can also be rough, depending on the time of year; prepare for possible motion sickness.

Exercise extreme caution when participating in water sports, such as swimming, boating, and fishing, as the tides and currents around the islands are very strong. Several small fishing boats have been lost at sea, and drownings have occurred on the beaches and along the coast in Santiago, Sal, and on other islands.

Terrorism Threat

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Praia as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. There are no known indigenous terrorist or dissident groups in Cabo Verde. However, the country’s geostrategic location, porous borders, and small coast guard with limited resources may render Cabo Verdean territory and/or waters at risk of use by nefarious actors, including terrorists, as transit routes. There have been no recorded or reported international terrorist incidents in Cabo Verde. However, the police have monitored groups they believe to have connections or influence with non-friendly organizations. There is a concern that extremism may also be growing in the prison systems in Santiago and São Vicente islands.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Praia as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Cabo Verde’s democratic system and processes are well-established and stable. Portuguese influence, legacy, and political/judicial framework remain strong throughout Cabo Verde’s institutions. Political violence is virtually unknown.

Civil Unrest 

Civil unrest and disorder are not common. There are occasional demonstrations over economic issues, but all such incidents have been peaceful. In December 2017, local police went on a weeklong strike to protest issues over pay and promotions. The police planned a similar strike in July 2018, but called it off when they reached an agreement with the Government. Strikes and work stoppages may become slightly more frequent during periods of increased unemployment, but such upticks remain infrequent. Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.

Religious/Ethnic Violence

Religious and ethnic violence are virtually nonexistent in Cabo Verde. Review OSAC’s report, Freedom to Practice, and the State Department’s webpage on security for faith-based travelers.

Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment

Anti-U.S. or Anti-Western sentiment is almost non-existent in Cabo Verde. The country maintains strong ties with the U.S. and many European nations.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Natural disasters are of some concern. Flooding from heavy rains is the most common environmental hazard that negatively affects road conditions and some low-lying coastal areas. The country entered a drought in 2017, and water shortages wreak havoc on subsistence agriculture and development efforts.

Although no recent tectonic natural disaster has severely affected Embassy operations, the potential for severe disruptions remains considering past incidents of volcanic and earthquake activity in the country. The entire island of Fogo is an active volcano. Future eruptions remain a threat, as do earth tremors throughout the islands, especially on Fogo, Brava, and Santo Antão, and beneath the ocean channels that separate them.

Volcanic eruptions occurred on the island of Fogo in 1995 and 2014. While the most recent eruption had little impact on Embassy operations or personnel, the Government of Cabo Verde would not have been prepared for a full-scale evacuation of the island had it been necessary. The ash cloud diverted international air traffic for two weeks.

Low-intensity tremors on the island of Brava in 2016 caused no injuries or damage; however, the Government of Cabo Verde evacuated about 300 residents it deemed in potential danger as a precaution in case the tremors continued or intensified.

Critical Infrastructure Concerns

There is some question regarding the government’s ability to react to large-scale natural disasters. During the 2014 volcanic eruption, the transportation of emergency responders by air and sea, as well as the evacuation of residents, proved challenging. The government requested international assistance for aid and support, including air/sea support, which Portugal provided. There were similar concerns during Hurricane Fred, which hit Cabo Verde in 2015; government response to after-effects proved difficult in the northern islands. While there is a coast guard, it has limited resources, and rescue or assistance of vessels or aircraft at sea would be challenging.

The ability of the government to respond to a major industrial or transportation accident is a concern, as there are limited resources for managing or containing such an event. While emergency services do exist, a large-scale accident would most likely require international support. There are limited resources even on Santiago and around Praia, and there are even fewer services available on other islands.

Personal Identity Concerns

Same-sex sexual activity is legal. The law protects against discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation. Persistent social discrimination is the norm for the LGBTI+ community, generally taking the form of public mockery and appearance-based discrimination. Review the State Department’s webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers.

The government does not enforce the law against rape and domestic violence effectively. NGOs lament the lack of social and psychological care for perpetrators and survivors alike. According to official data from the National Statistics Institute from 2017, 89% of victims of gender-based violence in the country are girls or women. The law provides for the same legal status and rights for women as for men, and the government somewhat enforces the law. Cultural norms and traditions, however, impose gender roles that hinder the eradication of gender-based discrimination. Review the State Department’s webpage on security for female travelers.

The law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities, and the government generally enforces these provisions, with problems remaining in a number of areas. For example, physical accessibility, communication means, and public transport appropriate for persons with disabilities often are lacking. The government works with civil society organizations to implement programs to provide access for wheelchair users, including ramps to enhance access to transportation and buildings. In June 2019, Praia’s public bus company purchased five buses accessible to persons with disabilities for regular use in the city. There are significant hardships in Cabo Verde for persons with limited mobility due to rugged terrain, widespread use of cobblestone streets and pathways, very limited number of elevators in buildings, and frequent power outages. Review the State Department’s webpage on security for travelers with disabilities.

Drug-related Crime

Drug trafficking has increased. Drug use and abuse is also on the rise, causing a follow-on uptick in street crime (e.g. pickpocketing, petty theft, robbery). However, drug abuse is not pervasive enough to cause serious socioeconomic problems, and authorities are actively trying to combat and counter the drug trade and its negative social effects. Approximately 25% of recidivists in the country’s second-largest prison are imprisoned for drug offenses. Rehabilitation efforts remain weak.

Cabo Verde continues to be a gateway for drug cartels to transport illegal drugs from South and Central America to Africa and Europe. In January 2019, local law enforcement authorities made an 8.76-ton cocaine seizure from a cargo ship that pulled into the Port of Praia. Narco-violence is growing in the islands. Past examples are the murder of the mother of a federal officer and the attempted murder of the son of a high-ranking government official.

Kidnapping Threat

Kidnappings for ransom or political gain are extremely uncommon in Cabo Verde. However, 2017 saw two instances of kidnapping: one may have involved internal issues in a drug trafficking organization, and the other was an express kidnapping. Review OSAC’s report, Kidnapping: The Basics.

Other Issues

Review OSAC’s report, Picture This: Dos and Don’ts for Photography.

Avoid taking any firearms or ammunition into Cabo Verde. Anyone caught entering Cabo Verde with firearms or ammunitions may face severe penalties, including prison time. Read the State Department’s webpage on customs and import restrictions for information on what you cannot take into or out of other countries.

Police Response

The emergency line in Cabo Verde is 132. Police are generally strong-willed, but their responsiveness is somewhat questionable. In most cases of larceny, police do not recover stolen items. Limited resources affect police capacity to assist and responsiveness to crimes, as does prioritizing cases that are more serious. Even though law enforcement is working as best it can with limited resources, drug interdiction continues to be a problem for the country. There are only 75 maritime police officers to patrol all ten islands. Even though a police presence is visible, proactive policing is not as prevalent as in other countries; generally, police services are reactive. Language abilities beyond Portuguese and Creole are also very limited (some may know some French and Spanish), making it difficult for tourists and others to report crime. The few U.S. citizens who have been victims of crime required the intervention of the Embassy’s Regional Security Office to get an efficient and effective police response. The language barrier is of some concern as the U.S. tourist presence in Cabo Verde grows. Download the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.

If police detain or question you, cooperate fully with the authorities; not doing so could prolong detention. Inform authorities of your status in the country, visiting purpose, and nationality, and request that they contact the U.S. Embassy. If needed, a detained U.S. citizen should contact American Citizen Services in the Embassy for assistance.

The latest Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International places Cabo Verde 45th in the world and third-best in all of Africa in terms of public sector corruption. Incidents of corruption/bribery are not overt, nor do police typically solicit bribes. If such an activity occurs, report it immediately. Cabo Verdean officials remain committed to fighting official corruption and punishing abuse of power whenever reported.

Police/Security Agencies

Medical Emergencies

The medical emergency line in Cabo Verde is 130. The country’s two largest hospitals are in Praia and Mindelo, and there are smaller hospitals, public health centers, and private medical clinics throughout the country. Medical facilities are basic at best, especially outside of Praia. Medical service providers often have adequate training, but lack equipment, supplies, and appropriate medical facilities for treating serious illnesses/injuries. Most medical staff speak Portuguese, and some speak or at least understand French and English. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website.

Transportation between islands is difficult and inter-island medical evacuation (medevac) options are limited. Cabo Verde does not operate an air ambulance service. Any emergency service would take one hour at the minimum to reach Praia from Dakar, and would be extremely expensive. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment may not be readily available. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities to provide urgent medical treatment. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Review the State Departments webpage on insurance overseas.

Tap water is not potable. Bottled water and other packaged beverages are generally safe. Ice for drinks might consist of tap water. Review OSAC’s report, I’m Drinking What in My Water?,

The following diseases are prevalent: Hepatitis A; Malaria; Typhoid; Zika; African Tick-Bite Fever; Chikungunya; Dengue; Hepatitis B; HIV; Rabies; and Tuberculosis. Follow CDC guidance on malaria. In recent years, there have been cases on Santiago island. Use CDC-recommended mosquito repellents and avoid mosquitoes. The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Cabo Verde.

Those traveling to Cabo Verde for scuba diving should be aware that there is no hyperbaric/decompression facility in the country.

Review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Traveling with Medication, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad.

OSAC Country Council Information

U.S. Embassy Praia does not have an OSAC Country Council. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s Africa team with any questions.

U.S. Embassy Contact Information

Rua Abilio Macedo 6 Caixa Postal 201 Praia

Hours of Operation: 0800-1700, Monday-Friday 

Switchboard +238-260-8900 

Embassy Operator +238-260-8912 

Embassy Duty Officer: +238-991-3325 

Regional Security Officer: +238-260-8926 

Website: http://cv.usembassy.gov/

Helpful Information

Before you travel, consider the following resources:

• OSAC Risk Matrix
• OSAC Travelers Toolkit
• State Department Traveler’s Checklist
• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)