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On October 30th, 2026, in Atsabe Administrative Post, Ermera Municipality, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, accompanied by the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Letefoho–Atsabe–Lourba road rehabilitation project, which spans 48.93 kilometres and has an investment of US$ 43.2 million.
The project covers the municipalities of Ermera and Bobonaro. It aims to improve transport conditions between the administrative posts of Letefoho, Atsabe, and Lourba, facilitate the transport of agricultural products, and enhance community access to markets, educational institutions, and healthcare services.
The intervention forms part of the 9th Constitutional Government’s priorities to improve the national road network and connections between rural communities. In July 2025, the Council of Ministers authorised expenditure and the launch of the procurement process for this project, alongside three other road rehabilitation projects covering the Maliana–Cailaco–Marobo Bridge and the Bobonaro–Lolotoe sections in Bobonaro Municipality, as well as the urban road network of Liquiçá.
The ceremony included traditional rituals led by representatives of local communities, the blessing of the land, and the symbolic laying of the cornerstone.
In his address, the Prime Minister called on communities, particularly young people, to monitor the execution of the works and to preserve the infrastructure upon completion.
“A substantial amount of money is being spent on this project, and it belongs to the people. The people suffered for 24 years to secure these funds. Therefore, I ask the communities to take good care of this infrastructure, as this road will make life easier for many people. We must value the people’s money and use it wisely,” stated Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
The Head of Government also urged municipal authorities and administrative post administrators to maintain ongoing dialogue with local communities and the contractor to resolve any difficulties that arise during construction.
On the same occasion, the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, emphasised that meeting execution deadlines also depends on community cooperation, particularly in securing access to locally available construction materials and resolving land-use matters.
The Minister further highlighted the link between road conditions and transport costs for agricultural produce, particularly coffee. He explained that road degradation increases transport costs and affects the prices paid to producers, whereas improved road links will facilitate market access.
Speaking on behalf of the communities across the three administrative posts involved, the Administrator of Atsabe Administrative Post, Manuel Oliveira, expressed satisfaction with the project’s launch, highlighting expected benefits for agricultural transport and for students and families travelling to healthcare facilities.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Government, Members of the National Parliament, municipal administration officials, representatives of public institutions, local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, veterans, students, and community members from Letefoho, Atsabe, and Lourba.
The project, with a contract value of US$43,199,250.51, will be executed over an estimated two-year period under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Works.
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On October 27th, 2026, the Minister of Strategic Planning and Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, accompanied by the Coordinator of the Working Group on Justice Sector Reform, Lúcia Lobato, visited the Faculty of Law at the University of Coimbra in Portugal to explore opportunities for cooperation in legal education and human resources development for Timor-Leste’s justice sector.
The delegation was received in the Scientific Council Chamber by Margarida Costa Andrade and João Pedro Rodrigues. The meeting focused on the ongoing relationship between Timor-Leste and the University of Coimbra, as well as potential avenues for cooperation aligned with government priorities for reform of the justice sector.
The Coordinator of the Working Group on Justice Sector Reform has been overseeing human resources training initiatives linked to the reform process, including the justice sector scholarship programme and coordination with Portuguese universities and institutions. In May of this year, Lúcia Lobato undertook an official mission to Portugal, which included meetings with justice sector institutions and consultations with Timorese scholarship recipients studying in various Portuguese cities.
As part of the human resources training programme for the justice sector, the Government signed five cooperation agreements in June 2024 with the Portuguese Catholic University and the Universities of Minho, Lisbon, Porto, and NOVA University Lisbon, providing for the training in Portugal of approximately 50 Timorese students per year. Funded by the Government of Timor-Leste, the programme aims to train between 250 and 300 legal professionals to address the needs of the judiciary, the Public Defender’s Office, public administration legal services, and legal education.
In early October, a new cohort of 50 scholarship recipients departed for Portugal, comprising 41 undergraduate, six master’s, and three doctoral students. In 2024, an initial group of 51 scholarship holders travelled to Portugal, followed by a second cohort of 52 students selected in 2025.
The University of Coimbra also maintains an academic partnership with Timor-Leste. In April 2023, the National University of Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) and the University of Coimbra signed a cooperation agreement to implement a Master’s programme in Law at UNTL, under the academic and pedagogical coordination of the University of Coimbra’s Faculty of Law.
This visit builds on ongoing engagements with Portuguese higher education institutions to train and qualify national personnel, enabling both parties to assess potential collaboration with the Faculty of Law at the University of Coimbra. Following the meeting, the delegation toured the Faculty of Law’s facilities.
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