Government of Timor-Leste

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão concluded the first phase of his working visit to the municipalities, which took place between February 24^th and 27^th, 2026, with trips to Liquiçá, Ermera, Aileu, and Manatuto, as part of on-the-ground monitoring of the functioning of municipal services and the collection of information on the results of the Assessment of Minimum Conditions for the creation of municipal authorities, in the context of the process of administrative decentralisation and local government. 

During this first leg of the nationwide visit, the Prime Minister met with municipal authorities, local governance structures, and relevant services, and visited infrastructure and initiatives in areas such as local administration, education, health, agriculture, and local development programmes, including interventions under the Municipal Integrated Development Planning (PDIM – acronym in Portuguese) and the National Program for the Development of Villages (PNDS – acronym in Portuguese).

In Liquiçá, on February 24^th, the Prime Minister met with municipal authorities at the Tokodede Hall in Liquiçá Vila, where the municipality's activities were presented, a dialogue session was held, and guidance was provided to local structures. In the afternoon, he visited projects and services in the municipality, including initiatives linked to the PDIM and PNDS, actions associated with the school meal programme, and activities in the health and agriculture sectors, with visits to a primary school in Liquiçá Vila, the community tourism area of Kaitehu in the Mota-Ulun village, the Bazartete administrative post, and health structures, including the inauguration of a consultation room at the Maubara Health Centre and a visit to the Maumeta maternity ward.

In Ermera, on February 25^th, the Prime Minister visited the Railaco Community Health Centre, where he called for improved patient care and observed the accommodation conditions for health professionals, noting the need for coordination of rehabilitation interventions. On the same day, he visited an aquaculture centre in Gleno dedicated to breeding Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT), where he was presented with information on support for local aquaculture, the link between production and supply for the school meal programme, and the importance of training beneficiaries in fish farming.

On February 26^th, in Aileu, the Prime Minister visited the Flores Central Elementary School in Aileu Vila to assess infrastructure conditions and the teaching and learning process. During the working meetings, topics related to the preparation for local government were discussed, with an emphasis on administrative organisation, financial management, planning, and coordination between the municipal and grassroots levels, as well as on promoting transparency and inclusion in the provision of public services.

In Manatuto, on February 27^th, the Prime Minister visited the oxygen production unit and the hospitalisation centre in Manatuto-Vila, and also visited local development initiatives, including a PNDS project to support pig farming. On the same day, he launched the construction of the Manatuto Municipal Assembly building. He signed plaques related to interventions in education and school meals, including those for a school and a kitchen in Hatularan, Laleia. During the visit to Manatuto, aspects of municipal preparation for the decentralisation process were also discussed, with reference to the need to consolidate administrative, financial, and planning capacities.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by a government delegation, which included, among others, the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, and members of the Government with sectoral responsibilities for the areas covered during the visits.

The second leg of the visit will take place between March 8^th and 12^th, covering the municipalities of Manufahi, Ainaro, Covalima, and Bobonaro. The third phase is scheduled for March 15^th to 18^th, with trips to the municipalities of Lautém, Baucau, and Viqueque.