Cape Verde, São Tomé Urge Portuguese-Speaking Countries To Sign Social Security Agreement

Presidents José Maria Neves of Cape Verde and Carlos Vila Nova of São Tomé have urged all States of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CLPC) to sign the multilateral social security agreement to complement the mobility process and bring the countries of the community closer together.

This was disclosed in a speech on Tuesday at the solemn session at the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe.

It is time for Cape Verde, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe to jointly find ways to compensate those who came as contractors [to São Tomé] and made the respective contributions to the social security system,” President Neves said.

According to the São Tomé President Nova, who holds the rotating presidency of the CPLP, only Portugal and East Timor have signed the agreement.

These two agreements are mutually relevant, as mobility calls for a compromise with the chapter on social security. Because greater movement naturally raises greater social issues, it would be desirable for the year not to end without all Member States concluding this ratification process for the benefit of our compatriots,” Carlos Vila Nova said during his speech at the welcome dinner for his Cape Verdean counterpart on Tuesday.

“We must do everything we can to ensure that mobility agreements, agreements related to social security and others can be effectively fulfilled to bring all the countries that make up our community closer together,” Neves said during his speech.

The President of São Tomé stressed that “pluralistic democracy is a condition for full integration into the CPLP” and that the democratic spirit must continue to be strengthened “so that the CPLP does not regress”.

In response, President Neves highlighted that “the CPLP is one of the strategic communities in the world due to its multiplicity and diversity”.

We are present in all regions of the globe and need to take advantage of these opportunities to affirm this organisation and each of our countries,” argued Neves.

According to the state-owned Terra Nova, climate change, security issues, health crises, unemployment, geostrategic wars, migration, and the expansion of extremism and populism in various parts of the world were concerns highlighted by the two politicians.

“It is good. It is essential that we reaffirm this idea. The idea is that we must continue to be messengers of peace, to be useful to the international community, to be countries capable of building bridges, and to resolve conflicts peacefully through dialogue and negotiation,” Neves added.

He argued that the two countries must continue along the same lines “of defending International Laws, the United Nations Charter, respect for the territorial integrity of countries, respect for sovereignty” and above all, “the option for peace and the negotiated solution to conflicts”.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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