Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will participate in an official visit to São Tomé and Príncipe, following an invitation from São Tomé’s President Carlos Vila Nova. Accompanying him will be Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ana Isabel Xavier, and a parliamentary delegation.
The delegation represents the Portuguese Assembly, with members from seven parties: José Cesário from PSD, Rui Paulo Sousa from Chega, Eduardo Pinheiro from PS, Carlos Guimarães Pinto from IL, Filipa Pinto from Livre, Alfredo Maia from PCP, and CDS-PP parliamentary leader Paulo Núncio.
“This visit, demonstrating the deep friendship between Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe, will serve to renew the commitment towards closer cooperation between the two nations, grounded in historical ties, integration in the Lusophone space, mutual respect, and the brotherhood between the Portuguese and São Toméan people,” the statement read.
São Tomé and Príncipe gained independence on July 12, 1975, after five centuries of Portuguese colonial rule.
Two years ago, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his willingness to attend independence celebrations of Portuguese-speaking countries, former Portuguese colonies, if invited.
At that time, he also announced his desire for the heads of these states to join the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Portugal’s April 25, 1974 revolution, which has been confirmed.
In 2023, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited Guinea-Bissau with the then Prime Minister António Costa. More recently, he was in Mozambique and Cape Verde, invited by respective presidents for the 50th anniversary celebrations of their independence.
