Dili,April 28(AseanAll) — On April 28th, 2026, in Oe-Cússe, the Minister of State Administration of Timor-Leste, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, officially swore in the new leadership of the Oe-Cússe Ambeno Special Administrative Region Authority (RAEOA – acronym in Portuguese) during a ceremony held at the Alfândega Palaban Convention Hall.
The new structure comprises the Authority’s President, three Regional Secretaries, and 21 Regional Service Directors, making a total of 24 members responsible for overseeing government services in the region.
Régio da Cruz Salu was sworn in as President of the RAEOA Authority. Salvador da Cruz (Administration and Finance), Francisco Loca (Planning and Development), and Merita Marques Lafo (Social Affairs and Community Organisation) filled the Regional Secretaries’ positions.
The Regional Service Directors for Administration and Human Resources, Integrated Planning and Development, Finance, Assets and Logistics, Procurement, Support for Non-Governmental and Community Organisations, Education, Health, Food Security, Public Works, Water and Environmental Sanitation, Agriculture, Market and Tourism, Social Action, Civil Protection and Disaster Management, Civil Registry and Notary Services, Transportation and Communications, Trade and Industry, Land and Property, as well as the Planning and Inspection Agencies, were also sworn in.
The appointment of the new leadership follows the Council of Ministers' decision on April 22nd, which approved the dismissal of the previous leaders and the appointment of new officials to positions within the RAEOA Authority.
In his remarks, the Minister of State Administration instructed the new officials to ensure the smooth operation of services and to prepare for this year’s Citizens’ Consultation, emphasising the need to engage closely with communities and to carry out their duties in the public’s service.
The Minister also noted that Decree-Law No. 20/2026 provides for the termination of ZEEDOA’s (Special Economic Development Zone in Oe-Cússe Ambeno) status within the RAEOA, with the organisation of regional services now governed by new mechanisms, including the Special Development Fund.
The Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, Mariano Assanami Sabino; the Vice Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Adérito Hugo da Costa; the Vice Minister of Commerce, Augusto Júnior Trindade; members of the National Parliament; the Public Service Commission; defence and security agencies; private-sector representatives; and the local community also attended the ceremony.
