On February 24^th, 2026, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão began a working visit to several municipalities, with the first visit taking place between February 24^th and 28^th, covering Liquiçá, Ermera, Aileu, and Manatuto. 

The visit is part of a series of visits to municipalities scheduled for February and March, with the aim of monitoring the functioning of municipal services on the ground and gathering information on the results of the Assessment of Minimum Conditions necessary for the creation of municipal authorities, including an analysis of the administrative, financial, and infrastructural capacities of each Municipal Authority. The programme is part of the preparatory work of the 9th Constitutional Government in the context of the process of administrative decentralisation and local power, including the identification of needs for improvement in institutional coordination and service delivery to the population.

During the first leg of his visit, in Liquiçá, the Prime Minister met municipal authorities at the Tokodede Hall in Liquiçá Vila, where he was briefed on the municipality’s activities, held a question-and-answer session, and gave guidance on local government structures.

During the afternoon, the Prime Minister visited projects and initiatives in the municipality, including interventions under the Municipal Integrated Development Plan (PDIM – acronym in Portuguese) and the National Program for the Development of Sucos (PNDS – acronym in Portuguese), actions related to the implementation of the school meal programme, and activities in the health and agriculture sectors. The visit also included direct observation of infrastructure and services, namely a primary school in Liquiçá Vila, the community tourism area of Kaitehu (suku Mota-Ulun, Bazartete administrative post), and health facilities, including the inauguration of a consultation room at the Maubara Health Centre and a visit to the Maumeta maternity ward.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by a government delegation, including, among others, the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral.

The visit will continue on February 25^th, 26^th, and 27^th, in the municipalities of Ermera, Aileu, and Manatuto. The second leg will take place between March 8^th and 12^th, covering the municipalities of Manufahi, Ainaro, Covalima, and Bobonaro. The third leg is scheduled for March 15^th to 18^th, with visits to the municipalities of Lautém, Baucau, and Viqueque.