Abortion in Cape Verde has been legal upon request prior to 12 weeks gestation since 1986.[1][2] After 12 weeks, a woman in Cape Verde can obtain a legal abortion if the pregnancy poses a risk to her physical or mental health or if the fetus is impaired.[2] Cape Verde is one of only six countries in Africa to permit elective abortions, alongside Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa and Tunisia.