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AI regulation in Cape Verde: laws & policy (2026)

AI in Cape Verde: proposed.

Cape Verde has no enacted AI-specific law, sectoral AI rules, or adopted voluntary AI guidelines as of mid-2026. In April-May 2026, the government formally launched the development process for both a National Data Strategy and a dedicated AI Strategy for public administration, led by the Ministry of Digital Economy with EU and international support. AI-related personal data processing is currently governed incidentally by the 2021-amended data protection framework overseen by the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD).

Last verified Official sources first · MethodologyCompare Cape Verde with other countries

Legal framework

National AI Strategy (in development, formally launched April-May 2026); data protection governed by CNPD under Law 133/V/2001 as amended by Law 121/IX/2021

Key points: artificial intelligence in Cape Verde

  1. No enacted AI law

    As of May 2026, Cape Verde has no dedicated AI legislation, sectoral AI-specific regulation, or formally adopted AI guidelines. The government is still in the strategy-development phase.

    techafricanews.com ecofinagency.com

  2. National AI Strategy launch (2026)

    Digital Economy Minister Olavo Correia formally launched the co-development of a National AI Strategy alongside a National Data Strategy for public administration in April-May 2026, aiming to shift from siloed systems to integrated, responsible AI use in the public interest.

    techafricanews.com telecompaper.com

  3. 2025 foundation conference

    In April 2025, Cape Verde hosted the 'Building the Digital Future' international conference under the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data's Power of Data initiative, establishing the national dialogue that underpinned the 2026 strategy launch.

    data4sdgs.org

  4. Data Protection Act as interim AI guardrail

    Law 121/IX/2021 (amending Law 133/V/2001) introduced GDPR-aligned rights, including data portability, erasure, restriction of processing, and a 72-hour breach notification requirement, and empowers the CNPD to apply them to AI systems that process personal data.

    legalmca.com dlapiperdataprotection.com rapdp.org

  5. African Union Continental AI Strategy

    As an AU member state, Cape Verde is covered by the AU Continental AI Strategy approved by the AU Executive Council in July 2024, which sets a development-focused, ethics-centred continental framework for AI governance and provides a reference for Cape Verde's own strategy-building.

    au.int fpf.org

  6. No AI-specific bans or sectoral rules

    No bans on specific AI applications (e.g., real-time biometric surveillance) and no sector-specific AI rules (finance, health, etc.) have been enacted; the regulatory space remains unoccupied pending completion of the national strategy.

    ecofinagency.com dlapiperdataprotection.com

Sources

  1. techafricanews.com/2026/05/04/cape-verde-launches-national-data-and-ai-strategies-to-mod
  2. ecofinagency.com/news-digital/3004-55172-cape-verde-starts-work-on-national-data-and-a
  3. telecompaper.com/news/cape-verde-begins-development-of-national-data-and-ai-strategy--
  4. data4sdgs.org/news/cabo-verde-charts-bold-new-path-first-national-data-strategy-age
  5. legalmca.com/en_GB/2021/04/30/amendment-of-the-law-on-personal-data-protection-in-
  6. dlapiperdataprotection.com/index.html?t=law&c=CV
  7. rapdp.org/en/node/41
  8. au.int/en/pressreleases/20240828/african-union-committed-developing-ai-capab
  9. fpf.org/blog/the-african-unions-continental-ai-strategy-data-protection-and-g

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Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 25 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026