On May 20th, 2026, President José Ramos-Horta chaired the official ceremonies marking the 24th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, held at Tasi-Tolu Square in Dili, attended by key state officials, members of the Government, diplomatic representatives, and international guests. 
The national flag-raising ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão; the President of the National Parliament, Maria Fernanda Lay; the President of the Court of Appeal, Afonso Carmona; and by Australia’s Vice Prime Minister, Richard Marles, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Kao Kim Hourn, who were guests of honour.
In his official address, the President paid tribute to the Veterans of National Liberation and honoured the historic leaders of the Timorese resistance, highlighting the nation’s journey from the restoration of independence in 2002 to the present.
The Head of State also highlighted the role of Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão as “the restorer of the Motherland, whose leadership, beginning in 1981, rescued the resistance from major military and ideological setbacks and led us to the realisation of our first dream—the liberation of the Motherland.” José Ramos-Horta also expressed his “sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister (…) and to all those who have worked with dedication and a sense of duty to make this important step towards the consolidation of our democracy possible.”
José Ramos-Horta stated that “Today’s Timor-Leste is, without a doubt, a different country from the one we found at the beginning of this century” and described it as “an oasis of peace, tranquility, security, and tolerance in a world at war.”
The Head of State highlighted progress across human development, education, health, infrastructure, electrification, and the country’s growing international standing. Drawing on data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2025, he noted that Timor-Leste achieved a Human Development Index of 0.634, placing it in the medium human development category.
In education, he highlighted the expansion of higher education, which grew from one university and about 3,000 students in 2002 to 20 universities and approximately 69,000 students in 2026. He also noted that Timor-Leste currently has more than 200 PhDs, about 1,400 master’s degree holders, and more than 49,000 bachelor’s degree holders, with the Government awarding more than 11,700 scholarships between 2011 and 2025.
On health, the President of the Republic noted that the country had increased its number of doctors from 19 in 2002 to more than 1,000 in 2026, and also highlighted the elimination of malaria in Timor-Leste, as declared by the World Health Organisation in 2024.
In infrastructure, José Ramos-Horta highlighted the expansion of the national road network to approximately 7,500 kilometres, with roughly 95% of the main road corridors paved, as well as investments in electrification, airports, ports, and other public infrastructure.
The President of the Republic congratulated the 9th Constitutional Government on its continued investment in infrastructure and the maintenance of public works, and highlighted progress in strengthening energy sovereignty and developing projects related to natural resources, including Greater Sunrise.
On regional integration, José Ramos-Horta noted that Timor-Leste became a full member of ASEAN in October 2025 and remarked that the country’s future chairmanship of the organisation in 2029 “represents a major challenge but also offers opportunities that were unimaginable just a few years ago.”
The celebrations marking the 24th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence also included military ceremonies, a national television broadcast of the events, and the lowering of the national flag at the end of the day, which was officiated by the President of the National Parliament, Maria Fernanda Lay.
The celebrations took place from May 17th to 20th, 2026, featuring cultural activities, religious ceremonies, tributes to the nation’s heroes, and commemorative events nationwide.