History

Movement for Democracy (MPD) wins parliamentary elections, leader Ulisses Correia e Silva becomes prime minister the following month.

Biggest eruption in decades of Cape Verdean volcano Pico do Fogo destroys two villages, forcing 1,500 people to flee their homes.

Two days of national mourning are declared on death of singer Cesaria Evora, considered to be one of the greatest exponents of Morna, a form of blues regarded as Cape Verde's national music.

Jorge Carlos Fonseca becomes president.

Governing PAICV party wins parliamentary elections.

UN office on drugs and crime, UNODC, launches a project for cooperation between Brazil and seven West African countries - including Cape Verde - to tackle drug trafficking.

A Syrian prisoner who had been detained at Guantanamo Bay by the US is transferred to Cape Verde.

National emergency declared following outbreak of dengue fever.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ends seven-nation tour of Africa in Cape Verde.

World Trade Organization (WTO) council approves Cape Verde's accession to the organisation.

Some 7,000 Nato troops take part in war games on Sao Vicente island. This is the organisation's first major deployment in Africa.

Governing PAICV wins parliamentary elections and incumbent leader, Pedro Pires, is victorious in closely-contested presidential polls.

Pedro Pires, from the Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, is elected president after beating his rival, the Movement for Democracy's Carlos Veiga, by 17 votes.

Government accepts defeat in parliamentary elections, paving the way for the return to power of the former ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, the PAICV.

Mascarenhas Monteiro is re-elected and his party, the Movement for Democracy, wins a majority of seats in parliamentary elections.

A new constitution brings in a multi-party system.

Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro becomes president following Cape Verde's first free election.

African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) replaces the PAIGC and becomes the country's sole party.

Cape Verde ditches plans for unity with Guinea-Bissau following coup in latter.

Cape Verde becomes independent and adopts constitution envisaging unity with Guinea-Bissau.

PAIGC-led liberation war begins against Portuguese rule in Guinea-Bissau, with many Cape Verdeans joining in.

Amilcar Cabral, a native of Cape Verde, co-founds the African Party for Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) in Guinea-Bissau.

Cape Verde becomes a Portuguese crown colony.

First Europeans arrive in Cape Verde.