Dili, 01 July 2023 - On 01 July 2023, H. E. the President of the Republic, Dr, José Ramos Horta, swore in Rear Admiral Donaciano Costa Gomes, PhD, as the new Minister of Defence of the IX Constitutional Government for a five-year term. The ceremony took place on the grounds of the presidential palace, Aitarak Klaran.

During the ceremony, the Prime Minister, kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, emphasized that the IX Government will prioritize the Education, Health and Defence sectors and areas that he considers fundamental for improving the provision of services to the country.

The Minister of Defense is responsible for designing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating the policy defined and approved by the Council of Ministers for the areas of National Defence and Military Cooperation.

The welcoming Ceremony for the new Minister of Defence, Rear Admiral Donaciano Gomes, PhD, took place in the Auditorium of the Ministry of Defence, where during the ceremony he stated that: “Timor-Leste is a neutral country, it has no allies or enemies, so I ask the Ministry of Defence leadership to guarantee security for National Sovereignty and Independence, to guarantee the peace and Stability of the country from external threats”.

It should be remembered that the current Minister of Defence was sworn in by the former President of the Republic, Dr, Francisco Guterres Lú-Olo, as Chief of State of the F-FDTL, for a period of one year.

Media MD