In Cape Verde, former Prime Minister Pedro Pires has dismissed as “unfounded” a request from Celso Ribeiro, leader of the parliamentary group of the MpD (Movement for Democracy), calling for the PAICV (African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde) to apologize for alleged abuses, arbitrary arrests, and torture during the country’s one-party regime.

Pires, who served as Prime Minister from 1975 to 1991, during the period of single-party rule, downplayed the demand for an apology, calling it politically motivated and lacking logic. Speaking at an event in Mindelo to commemorate Cape Verde’s National Heroes Day, Pires stated that such remarks were part of political gamesmanship aimed at gaining electoral advantage rather than contributing to historical understanding. He emphasized that he did not attach much importance to the issue.

Ribeiro’s call for an apology, made on January 13, came during celebrations marking 34 years of Cape Verde’s first free elections, citing specific instances of repression, arbitrary imprisonment, and deaths during the single-party era.

Source: Radio France Internationale (RFI)