Cape Verde Recognized as the Most LGBT-Friendly Country in Africa

Cape Verde has ranked first among African countries in the Equality Index by the human rights organization Equaldex , which evaluates the legal status of LGBT people and the level of public support. The island nation scored 68 out of 100 points, ahead of South Africa, Seychelles, Botswana, and Mauritius.

According to Equaldex, same-sex relationships have been legal in Cape Verde since 2004, there is no censorship of LGBT issues in the country, and hate crimes take into account the sexual orientation and gender identity of the victims. At the same time, same-sex marriage remains banned, legal gender marker change is not provided for, non-binary identities are not recognized, and legal protection against discrimination does not apply in all areas.

Analysts note a gap between legislation and public sentiment: the country’s legal index is 55 points, while the public support index is 80. This is the largest positive gap on the African continent.

The situation in Cape Verde contrasts with the situation in other states in the region. According to international agencies, more than 30 of the 54 African countries criminalize same-sex relationships, including imprisonment and the death penalty in a number of states.