List of ambassadors of the United States to Cape Verde
| Ambassador of the United States to Cape Verde | |
|---|---|
Seal of the United States Department of State | |
Flag of a United States ambassador | |
Incumbent since September 10, 2024Jennifer M. Adams | |
| Nominator | The president of the United States |
| Appointer | The president with Senate advice and consent |
| Inaugural holder | Melissa F. Wells as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary |
| Formation | September 16, 1976 |
| Website | U.S. Embassy - Praia |
Cape Verde had been a Portuguese colony for more than 500 years since 1456. In 1974 Portugal and the Cape Verdeans signed an agreement to form a transitional government, and Cape Verde gained full independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975.
The United States recognized Cape Verde and commissioned its first ambassador Melissa F. Wells in 1976. Ambassador Wells was concurrently accredited to Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde while resident at Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau. In 1980, an embassy was established in the capital Praia with a chargé d’affaires managing the business of the embassy. Until 1980 one ambassador, resident at Bissau, was concurrently commissioned to Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde.