DILI, 28 March 2026 (TATOLI) — Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão concluded a nationwide tour of municipalities with a two-day working visit to Viqueque on March 27–28, marking a key milestone in preparations for Timor-Leste’s administrative decentralization and local governance reforms planned for 2027.
The visit is part of the government’s program on the “direct observation of municipal services based on minimum condition assessments,” aimed at evaluating the performance of municipal services and the institutional capacity of local administrations to take on new responsibilities under the decentralization framework.
During the visit, the Prime Minister held a dialogue session with local authorities, municipal technicians, civil society representatives, and community members. The session presented the results of the Minimum Conditions Assessment and identified priority areas for improvement, including financial management, planning, coordination, and oversight.
Speaking at the meeting, Gusmão stressed that peace and stability remain essential foundations for local development and the successful implementation of decentralization. He also called for stronger community participation, particularly from young people, in shaping solutions for the municipality.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by several members of the government, including the Minister of State Administration, who oversees the decentralization process and the establishment of local government institutions, as well as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The Viqueque visit concludes three phases of municipal tours carried out by the Prime Minister since February 2026, as part of institutional preparations for the implementation of local governance, in line with Law No. 3/2016 on Local Power and Administrative Decentralization.
The government will continue technical and institutional work to ensure conditions are in place for the transfer of competencies from the central to local levels, aiming to strengthen direct public participation in governance and development.
TATOLI
