History of Cape Verde Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau). This largesse ultimately backfired on the Portuguese, however, as literate Cape Verdeans became aware of the pressures for independence building on the mainland, while the islands continued suffering from frequent drought and famine, at times from epidemic diseases and volcanic eruptions, and the Portuguese government did nothing. Thousands of people died of starvation during the first half of the 20th century. Although the nationalist movement appeared less fervent in Cape Verde than in Portugal's other African holdings, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC, acronym for the Portuguese "Partido Africano da Independência
Administrative divisions of Cape Verde Administrative divisions of Cape Verde The territory of Cape Verde is divided into 22 concelhos (municipalities), and subdivided into 32 freguesias (equivalent to civil parish). In Portuguese language usage, there are two words to distinguish the territory and the administrative organ. Administratively, right below the government, there are the municípios (municipalities), who administrate the "concelhos". Therefore, the "concelhos" are the first-level administrative subdivision in Cape Verde. Each municipality has an "Assembleia Municipal" (municipal assembly, the legislative body) and a "Câmara Municipal" (municipal chamber, the executive body). Every four years elections are held for the Assembleia Municipal, the Câmara Municipal and