Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 25th, 2026
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 25th, 2026
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Resolution to grant US$60,000 to the Permanent Mission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Timor-Leste, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas.
The main aim of this Government Resolution is to support the activities of the Permanent Mission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Timor-Leste and to demonstrate Timor-Leste’s support for the Sahrawi people, recognising the historical bonds of friendship and the shared struggle for self-determination.
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Following the proposal of the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution appointing Afonso dos Santos as Commander-General of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and Natércia Eufrásia Soares Martins as Second Commander-General of the PNTL, for a three-year term on secondment.
The Council of Ministers also expresses its appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the outgoing Commissioner-General and Second Commissioner-General, Henrique da Costa and Pedro Belo, respectively.
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Additionally, following the proposal of the Minister of the Interior and in accordance with the previous decision, a draft Government Resolution was approved to remove Natércia Eufrásia Soares Martins from her position as Executive Director of the Migration Service and to appoint PNTL Chief Superintendent Jorge Monteiro to that position, on a three-year secondment.
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The Council of Ministers reviewed the presentation by Minister of the Interior Francisco da Costa Guterres regarding the conclusions of the final report by the Commission for Monitoring and Oversight of the Public Recruitment Process for the PNTL Officer Training Course, established under Government Resolution No. 10/2026 of February 11th, which identified substantial evidence of serious irregularities in this recruitment process.
The report also outlines structural measures to be adopted in future recruitment processes. It proposes the potential development of protocols to determine liability for conduct that may have breached official duties or legal regulations.
Considering the irregularities identified, the Council of Ministers approved a draft Government Resolution to partially cancel the 2025 Public Recruitment Process for the National Police of Timor-Leste Training Course and ordered the opening of a new competition in 2026.
The government resolution mandates that all candidates who have passed the initial phase (document review) of the recruitment process must retake the selection tests (cultural, psychological, and medical).
Furthermore, the Minister of the Interior has been instructed to appoint a new jury with an expanded membership that includes both national and internationally recognised experts, and to establish an independent Oversight and Monitoring Commission with the participation of international partners to ensure transparency, legality, and impartiality at every stage of the process.
The Government Resolution also recognises the Monitoring and Oversight Commission's dedication and efforts, emphasising its role in maintaining the credibility of public institutions and citizens' rights.
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According to the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, the Council of Ministers approved expenditure totalling US$13,786,887.95 for the project to upgrade the terminal at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, covering the part of the cost to be paid by Timor-Leste. The project is co-financed by the Government of Japan.
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In accordance with the proposal presented by the Vice Prime Minister, the Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, and the Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, the Council of Ministers decided to authorise expenditure of US$15 million for an annual grant to the Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET), to be disbursed during 2026.
This annual grant to the Timorese Episcopal Conference is provided under the agreement signed on August 14th, 2015 between Timor-Leste and the Holy See, as well as the Framework Agreement signed on June 16th, 2017 between the Government and the CET, which stipulate an annual contribution, subject to the Government's financial capacity, for the social, educational, and ecclesiastical governance activities of the Catholic Church.
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The Council of Ministers approved a draft Decree-Law submitted by Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, regarding measures to stabilise fuel prices and temporarily ensure supply security.
The primary aim of this legislation is to mitigate the impact of current international instability on the energy sector, keep fuel prices stable domestically, and ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply.
Among the key measures approved, the most significant is the introduction of maximum limits on fuel prices, above which the Government provides subsidies funded by the General State Budget. As a result, prices must not exceed US$1.50 per litre for petrol, US$1.65 per litre for diesel, US$2.50 per litre for jet fuel, and US$4.20 per kilogram for LPG. Coordination mechanisms between public entities and industry operators have also been established to ensure supply, along with exceptional market control measures, increased oversight, and penalties for breaches, including efforts to combat the illegal diversion of subsidised fuels.
With this decision, the Government aims to protect households’ purchasing power, mitigate the impact of possible price increases on the economy, and ensure the smooth functioning of economic activity, while also securing fuel availability during this period of international instability.
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Lastly, the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, and the Civil Service Commission presented the Report on the Audit of Movable and Immovable Assets and Workforce Recruitment in the Oe-Cússe Ambeno Special Administrative Region (RAEOA) to the Council of Ministers, covering the period from June 1st, 2025, to March 1st, 2026.
The report provides an overview of the management of human resources, assets, and administrative activities at the RAEOA and highlights areas for improvement in planning, internal organisation, and control mechanisms.
The audit provided up-to-date information on the functioning of the services. It helped improve understanding of existing challenges and highlighted the need to strengthen public management practices, aiming to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and compliance with applicable standards. END
