President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has announced his upcoming visits to Praia from July 4 to 6 and São Tomé from July 11 to 13. These visits are to mark the 50th anniversaries of the independence of these African nations, following invitations from Cabo Verdean President José Maria Neves and São Tomé and Príncipe’s President Carlos Vila Nova.
Cabo Verde achieved independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975, followed by São Tomé and Príncipe on July 12, 1975, ending roughly five centuries of Portuguese colonial rule.
Currently, Rebelo de Sousa is in Mozambique celebrating the nation’s 50 years of independence, at the invitation of Mozambican President Daniel Chapo.
Two years prior, the Portuguese President expressed his desire to attend the independence ceremonies of Lusophone countries that were former Portuguese colonies, should invitations be extended.
At that time, he also stated he hoped these heads of state would witness Portugal’s own celebration of the 50th anniversary of the April 25 revolution in 1974, which indeed took place.
In 2023, Rebelo de Sousa, together with then-Prime Minister António Costa, attended the 50th anniversary of Guinea-Bissau’s independence, invited by President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
The Portuguese parliament’s formal consent for the President’s travels is mandated by the Constitution, requiring that the head of state cannot leave the national territory without parliamentary authorization.
