Soon..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 29th, 2026
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the Government’s proposed resolution, presented by the President of the Civil Service Commission, Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, to suspend recruitment of civil servants and public administration employees, as well as the hiring of “temporary workers”.
The aim of this draft Government Resolution is to limit the continued growth of the public administration—which has occurred without a rigorous selection process and has been based solely on actual needs—because this has resulted in a considerable increase in budgetary expenditure.
This draft Government Resolution provides for exceptions to hiring for Ministerial Offices, to merit-based selection processes for management and leadership positions, and to career tracks or professional groups with vacancies and budgets approved in the previous year, as well as for university faculty and healthcare professionals, justified by staff shortages.
*****
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes, on the public subsidy programme for media outlets.
The purpose of the draft Decree-Law is to strengthen the sector’s sustainability, ensure the free flow of information, and promote pluralism and diversity of opinion.
This is a government initiative designed to support media organisations on objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria, without compromising their editorial independence or freedom of information and of the press.
*****
The Council of Ministers, following a proposal from the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes, decided to approve the Framework Program for Cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal in the Field of Defence for the period 2025–2028.
This Framework Cooperation Program aims to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal, promoting political and strategic dialogue and the development of the institutional, technical, and operational capabilities of the National Defence and FALINTIL—Timor-Leste Defence Forces (F-FDTL). The Programme provides for training, education, and professional development initiatives for personnel in Timor-Leste and Portugal, as well as the strengthening of good governance in the defence sector and the operational capabilities of the naval, land, and air components.
The Program also covers cooperation in strategic areas such as military health, maritime security and state authority at sea, participation in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, crisis management and response to natural disasters, as well as in the fields of cyber defence, information technology, cartography, hydrography, oceanography, the defence industry, climate change, and the “Women, Peace, and Security” agenda. It also provides for deepening political dialogue on maritime security and for promoting trilateral cooperation initiatives with other states or with international, regional, and subregional organisations.
*****
The Council of Ministers, also upon a proposal by the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes, decided to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Portuguese Ministry of Defence on the Portuguese capacity-building mission in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
This Memorandum of Understanding aims to strengthen and deepen bilateral defence cooperation by consolidating and expanding the temporary advisory missions provided for in the Framework Program for Defence Cooperation, and by promoting training, education, and development initiatives that enhance the operational capabilities of the National Defence and FALINTIL — the Timor-Leste Defence Forces (F-FDTL).
The Memorandum also establishes a framework for cooperation to develop the F-FDTL’s capabilities in strategic areas, specifically in military higher education, military health, command and control, military situational awareness, and the employment of naval, land, and air components, as well as to strengthen capabilities in materiel, equipment, and infrastructure, in accordance with the priorities defined by both Parties. The instrument also provides for the implementation of other capacity-building initiatives that may be agreed between the two States, in line with the common objectives of modernisation and institutional development in the defence sector.
*****
Following a proposal by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, the Council of Ministers decided to accept:
*****
Lastly, the Council of Ministers reviewed the Report on the participation of the Timor-Leste delegation in the 30th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Meeting, held on July 6th and 7th, 2026 in Seoul, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel. The meeting was particularly significant as it marked the first ASEAN–Republic of Korea Dialogue following Timor-Leste’s full accession to ASEAN, allowing the country to participate for the first time as the 11th member in defining the strategic priorities of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and in implementing the Action Plan for the period 2026–2030.
As part of the proceedings, Timor-Leste presented its national priorities under the ASEAN Integration Initiative, emphasising the need to reduce development disparities, strengthen institutional capacities, develop human capital, advance digital transformation, and prepare for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029. The Republic of Korea reiterated its commitment to supporting Timor-Leste through Official Development Assistance programmes, the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, and other initiatives aimed at institutional strengthening, human resource development, modernising digital infrastructure, the energy transition, sustainable development, and preparations for the future ASEAN Chairmanship.
The priorities presented by the Timorese delegation also highlighted the need to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Integration Initiative, to strengthen the country’s preparedness for the digital economy and artificial intelligence, to promote technical and vocational training and the creation of employment opportunities for youth, as well as to strengthen climate resilience, energy security, and the institutional capacities necessary to hold the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029, in accordance with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
The dialogue also reinforced Timor-Leste’s role as an active and constructive partner in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, identifying new opportunities for cooperation in strategic areas such as governance and institutional strengthening, technical capacity building and human resources development, the digital economy, artificial intelligence and technological innovation, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and climate resilience. These initiatives align with the priorities of the 9th Constitutional Government and will help accelerate the country’s economic and social development, strengthen national competitiveness, and ensure Timor-Leste’s full and effective integration into ASEAN. END
Soon…
Address By His Excellency the Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Bebonuk, Dili, 28 July 2026
Soon..
Address By His Excellency the Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Manatutu, 23 July 2026
Soon…
The Minister of State Administration (MAE), Tomás do Rosário Cabral, participated in the opening of the Forum for the Integration of Municipal Engineers for the municipalities, the Oecússi-Ambeno Special Administrative Region (RAEOA), and Ataúro. The event took place over two days, July 23rd – 24th, 2026, at the Delta Nova Hall.
This forum included a training session on “Management of the Small-Scale Project Cycle Based on the Technical Standards and Procedures of ADN, I.P.,” aimed at strengthening the capabilities of municipal technicians in planning, implementing, monitoring, and quality control of infrastructure projects.
The training also aims to prepare personnel for the implementation of decentralisation in local government.
At the opening of the ceremony, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão encouraged the municipalities to make the most of this training to strengthen engineers’ professional capabilities and support the development of strong, efficient, and responsive local governance that meets the population’s needs.
The Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment (MPIE – acronym in Portuguese), Gastão Francisco de Sousa, emphasised the importance of strengthening human resources capacity in the infrastructure sector and ensuring that development projects are carried out in accordance with appropriate technical standards.
The Executive Director of the National Development Agency (AND – acronym in Portuguese), Januário Maia Guterres, explained that the training is intended for technical staff of the Municipal Integrated Development Program (PDIM) and the National Rural Development Program (PNDS – acronym in Portuguese).
The goal of the initiative is to strengthen technical capacity to ensure that infrastructure projects are implemented to a high standard, with accountability, and delivering sustainable benefits for the community.
The training session brought together 56 participants—28 staff members from the Municipal Integrated Development Program (PDIM) and 28 from the PNDS—alongside six speakers, ADN advisors, and senior staff members.
At the end of the programme, ADN will award certificates to participants who successfully complete the training, recognising their commitment to professional development.
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment Gastão Francisco de Sousa, Secretary of State for Local Development Mateus W. dos Santos Tallo, representatives of municipal authorities and the RAEOA Authority, and municipal engineers from across the country attended the opening ceremony.
Soon…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
July 22nd, 2026
Message of Condolences
on the Passing of Luís Represas
It is with profound sadness that we learned of the passing of Luís Represas, a long-standing friend of Timor-Leste.
Luís Represas dedicated his life to music and, over many decades, distinguished himself through an exceptional musical career.
Through the musical group Os Trovante, his path became intertwined with that of the Timorese people. In 1990, with the song Timor, written by João Monge and João Gil, Luís Represas gave voice to those who could not tell the world of the atrocities they suffered during the Indonesian occupation.
The song became a symbol of the Timorese people’s struggle for freedom and self-determination in the face of the injustice inflicted upon them.
It was sung at demonstrations and vigils by children and adults alike, expressing solidarity with the Timorese people’s struggle.
On 11 May 2016, Luís Represas was awarded the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste.
Luís Represas performed Timor on Timorese soil for the final time in August 2019 during the commemorations marking the twentieth anniversary of the Popular Consultation of 30 August 1999.
On that evening, he was joined by the emotional and free voices of thousands of Timorese who sang together in tribute to all the sons, daughters, and friends of Timor-Leste.
The Government of Timor-Leste expresses its deepest sorrow at the passing of Luís Represas and extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. END