Country report and updates: Cape Verde

1 Conscription

conscription exists

Military service is compulsory under art. 34 of the constitution. [1]

military service

All men are liable for military service, which lasts for 2 years. [2]

postponement and exemption

No information about this is available.

recruitment

According to one source, conscription is selective, but it is not known in what way recruitment and selection of conscripts takes place. [3]

2 Conscientious objection

According to the government in 1985, there is no legislation providing for conscientious objection to military service, armed or otherwise. [1]

However, according to Amnesty International, civilian national service is available. [2]

It is not known whether performing civilian national service is a right to which COs may apply.

3 Draft evasion and desertion

No information about this is available.

6 Annual statistics

The armed forces are 1,100 strong - 0.3 percent of the population. [3]

Every year approximately 4,000 men reach the age of 18. [3]

Sources

[1] Eide, A., C. Mubanga-Chipoya 1985. Conscientious objection to military service, report prepared in pursuance of resolutions 14 (XXXIV) and 1982/30 of the Sub-Commission of Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. United Nations, New York. [2] UN Commission on Human Rights 1997. The question of conscientious objection to military service, report of the Secretary-General prepared pursuant to Commission resolution 1995/83. United Nations, Geneva. [3] Institute for Strategic Studies 1997. Military Balance 1997/98. ISS, London, UK.