Ramos-Horta receives Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur of the Republic of France
DÍLI, 13 November 2026 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Laureate, José Ramos-Horta, was conferred the National Order of the Legion of Honour (Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur) by the President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace on 11 November 2026.
The Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur is the Republic of France’s highest state distinction. Its conferral upon President J. Ramos-Horta recognizes his contribution, commitment, and distinguished service in the field of diplomacy and international relations.
The award ceremony follows a sustained period of deepening dialogue between the two leaders.
The Honour from President Emmanuel Macron to President Ramos-Horta reflects the strong and enduring ties between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Republic of France, and underscores President Ramos-Horta’s personal role in advancing international cooperation and dialogue.
President Ramos-Horta and President Macron have met at least four times in direct bilateral or multilateral settings since early 2024, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between Timor-Leste and the Republic of France.
The two presidents first met at the highest level at the Élysée Palace on 24 January 2024, when Macron hosted Ramos-Horta for talks on bilateral cooperation. Discussions included France’s potential establishment of an embassy in Dili and opportunities for French investment in Timor-Leste’s tourism sector.
They met again on the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Their third meeting took place on 25–26 February 2026, during Ramos-Horta’s official visit to France, when Macron again received him at the Élysée Palace.
During the February visit, the two leaders discussed potential French investment in strategic infrastructure, including the Port of Tibar, a trilateral solar energy initiative involving Japan, and human capital development.
The 11 November ceremony marked another high-level engagement between the two leaders, further underscoring their commitment to strengthening relations between Timor-Leste and France.
President Ramos-Horta is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1996) and the current President of Timor-Leste, who has devoted his life to his nation’s struggle for independence, peace, and development.
In exile for nearly three decades during Indonesia’s 24-year occupation, he served as the international voice of the Timorese people, building human rights networks and advocating at the United Nations until Timor-Leste’s independence in 1999.
He then helped architect the new democratic government, serving as Foreign Minister and later stepping in as Prime Minister during the 2006 crisis before being elected President in 2007, a tenure marked by his dedication to serving as “President of the Poor.”
After his presidency, he became a global peacemaker, mediating democratic transitions in Guinea-Bissau and chairing UN panels on peace operations. Elected President for a second term in 2022, President Ramos-Horta continues to serve the nation he helped found, championing inclusive sustainability and social justice.
TATOLI
