Marcelo arrives in São Tomé for independence celebrations

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, arrives in São Tomé and Príncipe this Friday to participate in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of this country's independence, on Saturday, at the invitation of his São Tomé counterpart, Carlos Vila Nova.

On this official visit, the Portuguese head of state will be accompanied by the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ana Isabel Xavier, and deputies from the seven parties with parliamentary groups: PSD, Chega, PS, IL, Livre, PCP and CDS-PP.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who is traveling by military plane, with arrival at São Tomé International Airport scheduled for 5:30 pm local time (6:30 pm in mainland Portugal), has a program this Friday in the country's capital.

At the end of the day, he will meet with representatives of the Portuguese community. Later, he will be received by President Carlos Vila Nova at the Presidential Palace.

On Saturday, he will participate in the Central Event of the Celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of São Tomé and Príncipe, which should begin at around 9:30 am local time, at Independence Square, and then at an official lunch, scheduled for 1:00 pm, at the National Assembly.

Representing the Assembly of the Republic, the Portuguese delegation in São Tomé includes José Cesário, from the PSD, Rui Paulo Sousa, from Chega, Eduardo Pinheiro, from the PS, Carlos Guimarães Pinto, from IL, Filipa Pinto, from Livre, Alfredo Maia, from the PCP, and the parliamentary leader of the CDS-PP, Paulo Núncio.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will return to Portugal on Sunday.

São Tomé and Príncipe became independent on July 12, 1975, after five centuries of Portuguese colonial rule.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Presidency of the Republic described this official visit as “demonstrative of the deep friendship between Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe”.

"It will be an opportunity to renew the commitment to move towards ever closer cooperation between the two States, anchored in historical sharing, integration into the Lusophone space, mutual respect and brotherhood between the Portuguese and São Tomé peoples," the same note reads.

Two years ago, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his desire to participate in the independence celebrations of Portuguese-speaking countries, former colonies of Portugal, if invited.

At the time, he announced that he would also like to see the heads of state of these countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of April 25, 1974, in Portugal, which was confirmed.

In 2023, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa traveled to Guinea-Bissau with the then Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, and more recently he was in Mozambique and Cape Verde, at the invitation of their respective presidents, for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the independence of these countries.