Cape Verde judicial courts resolve 95% of cases amid high backlog

First-instance judicial courts resolved 95.4% of cases entered during the 2025/2026 judicial year. However, the Public Prosecutor's Office reported a high volume of 64,150 pending criminal cases at the end of the period.

According to Prosecutor António Sebastião Sousa, while service improvements were noted, the number of incoming cases slightly exceeded resolved cases, leading to a residual increase in pendency. This shift is attributed to the implementation of new statutes and organic laws, which required training for court officials.

Geographically, the Praia district accounts for 46% of new cases, 49% of resolutions, and 76% of the national backlog. In contrast, São Vicente saw an 11% reduction in pending cases. The highest resolution rates were recorded in Mosteiros (95.6%), Paul (80.9%), and Santa Cruz (70.7%).