Why did the PAIGC seek independence for both Cabo Verde and Guinea-Bissau?

The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde (PAIGC) sought independence for both territories because they shared a long-standing history of joint colonial administration under Portugal. Although they were formally separated into distinct territories in 1879, they remained linked under Portuguese rule.12

In the mid-20th century, as the African decolonization movement gained momentum, the Portuguese government attempted to deflect criticism by reclassifying its colonies as "overseas provinces" in 1951 and granting inhabitants full citizenship in 1961. The PAIGC, founded in 1956 by Amílcar Cabral and his associates, viewed these administrative changes as superficial and insufficient.123

Driven by a commitment to national liberation and the rejection of the colonial and fascist regime, the PAIGC advocated for the complete independence of both Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde as a unified political objective. This struggle eventually transitioned from peaceful protest to an armed campaign in 1963, ultimately contributing to the end of Portuguese colonial rule in both regions.123