As the country approaches its 50th Independence Day on July 5, Veiga, who witnessed the events of 1975, reflected on the political atmosphere of the time and the challenges that followed. Speaking in an interview, he described the early years of nation-building as a period driven by resilience and vision.

“We had very few resources, but what we had in abundance was belief in ourselves and our future,” he said.

Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975, following years of anti-colonial struggle. According to Veiga, the transition to sovereignty was filled with both hope and hardship as the new state sought to establish functioning institutions, unify its people, and build an economy from the ground up.

Despite limited natural resources and recurring droughts, the country has made significant strides over the past five decades. Today, Cape Verde is recognised as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

--ChannelAfrica--