On December 31^st, 2025, Timor-Leste marked National Heroes’ Day with a symbolic march from the Presidential Palace to the statue of the late President Nicolau Lobato in Dili, paying tribute to the heroes and martyrs of the National Liberation who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence and sovereignty. 

The celebrations brought together the President of the Republic, representatives of sovereign bodies, members of the 9th Constitutional Government, veterans, members of the defence and security forces, civil servants, and citizens, in a moment that symbolised national unity and intergenerational responsibility for preserving historical memory and the values of patriotism.

The march, in particular, commemorated the 47th anniversary of the death in combat of Commander Nicolau Lobato, which occurred on December 31^st, 1978 in the village (Suco) of Mindelo, in the municipality of Manufahi, as well as the memory of all the heroes who lost their lives in the struggle for self-determination between 1975 and 1999.

The highlight of the celebrations took place at the Nicolau Lobato Monument, where the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, presided over the solemn ceremony honouring national heroes, including the laying of wreaths.

In his speech, the Head of State paid tribute to the courage and selflessness of the nation’s founders, highlighting historical figures such as Nicolau dos Reis Lobato and Francisco Xavier do Amaral, and emphasised that Timor-Leste’s freedom was the result of a long process of resistance and sacrifice by the Timorese.

The official National Heroes’ Day programme concluded on the evening of December 31^st with the celebration of the end of 2025 and the welcoming of 2026 at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, with the participation of the population.