DILI, 07 July 2026 (TATOLI) – Former Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri will make an official visit to Timor-Leste from 8 to 10 July 2026, marking her second trip to the country since it restored its independence in 2002.
The visit follows an invitation extended by President José Ramos-Horta during a meeting with Megawati in Abu Dhabi in February 2026.
The official visit is expected to reaffirm the longstanding relationship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia and provide an opportunity for further engagement between leaders from the two neighbouring countries.
Megawati last visited Timor-Leste in 2002, when she attended the country’s Restoration of Independence celebrations in her capacity as Indonesia’s president.
During this visit, President Ramos-Horta will bestow upon Megawati Soekarnoputri the highest honor of Timor-Leste, the Grand Coral of the Order of Timor-Leste, in recognition of her exceptional role in supporting and witnessing the restoration of Timor-Leste’s independence, and her significant contributions to the reconciliation, normalization, and official establishment of diplomatic relations between Timor-Leste and Indonesia.
Ahead of the three-day visit, the Director-General of Consular and Protocol Affairs, Josefina Carla Pompeia Tilman, chaired a final coordination meeting on Monday to review preparations and ensure arrangements are in place for the high-level visit.
The discussion focused on reviewing all necessary preparations to ensure the successful implementation of the visit, including protocol arrangements, police escort coordination, transportation, security, and other logistical matters.
The Director-General called on all relevant institutions to further strengthen their coordination and cooperation, emphasizing that close collaboration and teamwork are essential to ensuring that the visit is conducted successfully, in accordance with the highest standards of protocol, hospitality, and professionalism.
The visit reflects Megawati’s historical ties to Timor-Leste. The ties between Timor-Leste and Indonesia remain strong, including people-to-people links, socio-cultural cooperation and government-to-government relations.
Megawati served as Indonesia’s fifth president from 2001 to 2004, after previously holding the position of vice president.
She was the country’s first female head of state and is the daughter of Indonesia’s founding president, Sukarno.
Megawati remains an influential political figure and currently leads the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.
TATOLI
