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The Ministry of State Administration and Territorial Management (MSATM) is the branch of Government responsible for the local and national administration, public service, territorial management, supporting to elections, and publicizing and preserving public documents. The MSATM website provides public access to information about the work of MSATM, public documents and current news.

Fact Sheet on the Government's Plan to Establish Municipalities

In 2009, the Government is planning to prepare districts to become municipalities. This process is decentralization, or moving some work from the central level to the local level. The process will begin after the National Parliament approves laws that will regulate how to establish a local government system. The government has been working since 2003, however to prepare the nation for the decentralization process, and will continue to work to ensure that the municipalities, in the future, are a strong mechanism for development in Timor-Leste. Read the fact sheet: (PDF: Tetun Only).

Same Market Inaugurated by MSATM Minister

Vendors in the Same Market in Manufahi were presented with a new market building on Friday, February 20, during a ceremony attended by Minister of State Administration and Territorial Management Arcângelo Leite. The building was officially handed over to the Same Market Management Committee from the Manufahi District Assembly, which voted to build the new market as part of Manufahi’s 2008 budget for the Local Development Programme.

Read Full Press Release Online (English | Tetun) - or - Download PDF (English | Tetun)

Council of Ministers Approves Law Proposals on Local Governance

The Council of Ministers agreed after a long discussion on February 18, 2009, to submit law proposals on the establishment of local government to the National Parliament. The Council of Ministers had already approved last week a law proposal on Administrative and Territorial Division and yesterday approved two more law proposals on Local Government and Municipal Elections. Together, these three law proposals are an important step in the decentralization process and establishment of municipalities.

Read Full Press Release Online (English | Tetun) - or - Download PDF (English | Tetun)

Download the law proposals submitted to National Parliament  (Portuguese Only):
Local Government -- Municipal Elections -- Territorial and Administrative Division
** Please note: These law proposals are not approved legislation. Only National Parliament can approve the final laws on local governance.

2009 Local Development Fund Announcement

On the 2 February 2009, the Minister of State Administration and Territorial Management, Dr. Arcângelo Leite, confirmed the Government’s commitment to decentralization through the announcement of the funds allocated to the Local Development Programme (LDP) in 2009.

Read Full Press Release Online - or - Download PDF

Decentralization in TImor-Leste

Throughout 2008, MSATM is preparing the legal framework for the decentralization of the Government. The current Government proposal is to create Municipalities at the current district level, and through the formation of local government increase the efficiency and accountability for government services at the local level. Depending on the approval of the proposed laws in National Parliament, the decentralization process could begin as soon as 2009.
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