Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid a state visit to the Republic of Cabo Verde from 3 to 5 October. In the capital Praia on the island of Santiago, he met President José Maria Neves for political talks before addressing the National Assembly. He also toured the old town of Cidade Velha, the first settlement on the island dating from the 15th century, which features on the UNESCO World Heritage List. At a meeting with representatives of civil society, the Federal President found out more about the latest developments in the country.
At the second stop on his trip to Cabo Verde, the Federal President visited the town of Mindelo on the island of São Vicente to be briefed by German and Cabo Verdean scientists on the impact of climate change on the region and to gain an insight into bilateral cooperation on marine and climate research. To this end, the Federal President first visited the marine research institute Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM), a joint project of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and the Instituto do Mar in Mindelo. A second appointment on the island of São Vicente took the Federal President to the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (CVAO) in which the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research in Leipzig and the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena play an active role.
This was the first time a Federal President has visited Cabo Verde.
Overview of the programme:
Tuesday, 3 October
- Flight to Praia, Cabo Verde
Wednesday, 4 October
- Praia, Presidential Palace (CEST -3)
Welcome with military honours by the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Pereira Neves - Talks with the President
- Signing of the visitors’ book
- Bestowal of the Amílcar Cabral Prize on the Federal President by the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde
- Meeting with the press
- City Hall
Presentation of the keys to the city of Praia to the Federal President by Mayor Francisco Carvalho - Memorial Amílcar Cabral
Wreath-laying ceremony - National Assembly
Speech by the Federal President to the National Assembly - Várzea Palace
Talks with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Ulisses Correia e Silva - Delegation hotel
Talks with representatives of civil society - Cidade Velha
Tour of the ruins of the Fort of São Filipe with the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde - Tour of the Nossa Senhora do Rosário church
- Praia, Presidential Palace
State banquet hosted by the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde
Thursday, 5 October
- Flight to Mindelo
- Ocean Science Centre
Visit to the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo with the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde - 1Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory
Visit to the observatory and ceremony laying the foundation stone for a new laboratory building with the President - Centro Nacional de Arte, Artesanato e Design
Visit to the National Centre for Art, Crafts and Design with the President - Reception, hosted by the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde
- People’s Palace
Farewell with military honours by the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde - Flight to Porto, Portugal