Marcelo travels to Cape Verde and São Tomé in July to celebrate independence

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, will travel to Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe in July to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their respective independence, at the invitation of his counterparts.

According to a letter sent by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to the Assembly of the Republic, the head of state plans to travel to the city of Praia between 4 and 6 July and to São Tomé between 11 and 13 July.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa says he will participate in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the independence of these African countries, at the invitation of the presidents of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, and São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova.

Cape Verde became independent from Portugal on July 5, 1975 and São Tomé and Príncipe on July 12, 1975, after five centuries of Portuguese colonial rule.

Today, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is participating in Mozambique in the celebrations of the country's 50th anniversary of independence, at the invitation of the Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo.

Two years ago, the President of the Republic expressed his desire to participate in the independence celebrations of Portuguese-speaking countries that were former colonies of Portugal, if he were invited.

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

In 2023, he participated, in Bissau, with the then Prime Minister, António Costa, in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of independence of Guinea-Bissau, at the invitation of the Guinean President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

The consent of the Assembly of the Republic to the travel of the head of state is a formality imposed by the Constitution, which establishes that the President of the Republic cannot leave the national territory without authorization from parliament.