Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe

Bilateral relations between Brazil and São Tomé and Príncipe, established in 1975, the year of São Tomé's independence, gained greater momentum with the opening of the Brazilian Embassy in São Tomé, in 2003. The ambassador of São Tomé to Brazil resides in Washington.

Brazil’s technical cooperation agenda with São Tomé and Príncipe, the central axis of the bilateral relationship and developed thorugh projects coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), has covered, since 1998, more than 90 initiatives. The partnership has already involved initiatives in the areas of education, health, government computerization, agriculture, adult literacy, defense, urban infrastructure, police, prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, and social security.

In the educational field, since 2000, more than 390 Sao Tomean students have benefited from the Agreement for Undergraduate Student Program (PEC-G), making the archipelago the fifth largest beneficiary of this Program on the African continent. Many Sao Tomean students have also benefited from the Federal University of Portuguese-Afro-Brazilian Integration (UNILAB), based in Redenção, Ceará, and the campus in São Francisco do Conde, Bahia.

Cultural exchange is another important aspect of the relationship, driven by the Brazil-São Tomé and Príncipe Cultural Center, which functions as an important space for the dissemination of the Brazilian and São Tomean cultures.

The Brazilian Navy established, in November 2014, the Brazilian Naval Mission Center in São Tomé and Príncipe, with the aim of supporting the training of military personnel through courses and training and assisting in the organization and structuring of the country’s Coast Guard. São Tomé and Príncipe holds a strategic position in the Gulf of Guinea.

In 2022, Brazilian exports to São Tomé and Príncipe accounted for almost all bilateral trade, totaling $3.96 million, an increase of almost 30% compared to the previous year while imports amounted to $3.2 thousand (Source: Comex Stat – Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services).

Chronology of bilateral relations

2023 – Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada visits Brasília (June)

2023 – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities Alberto Neto Pereira visits Brazil on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

2018 – President Evaristo Carvalho visits Brazil on the occasion of the 8th World Water Forum

2017 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Aloysio Nunes visits São Tomé and Príncipe

2016 – President Evaristo Carvalho visits Brazil on the occasion of the 11th Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)

2015 – Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira visits São Tomé, where he meets with President Manuel Pinto da Costa, Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada and Foreign Minister Manuel Salvador dos Ramos (March 29)

2010 – Signing of the Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe

2009 – Prime Minister Joaquim Rafael Branco makes an official visit to Brazil

2006 – The president of the National Electoral Commission of São Tomé and Príncipe visits Brazil to observe the Brazilian elections

2005 – President Fradique de Menezes visits Brazil

2004 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva travels to São Tomé and Príncipe on the occasion of the 5th Summit of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)

2003 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits São Tomé and Príncipe; opening of the Brazilian Embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe and the Brazilian Cultural Center (present-day Instituto Guimarães Rosa), in São Tomé.

2002 – President Fradique de Menezes visits Brazil, on the occasion of the 4th Summit of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)

1975 – Establishment of diplomatic relations