Lisbon, July 12, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's foreign minister told Lusa on Sunday that the member states are still discussing the next rotating presidency of the CPLP, which differs from the announcement made by the Timorese prime minister in Lisbon on 22 June.

The prime minister of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmão, announced at the headquarters of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) that his country would be the next to lead the organisation, explaining that the current presidency corresponds to the term originally allocated to Guinea-Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau took over the leadership of the Portuguese-speaking organisation in August 2025 and was due to end its term in 2027.

However, the military coup d’état of 26 November 2025, on the eve of the announcement of the 23 November election results, led to the CPLP, the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspending the country in December, with Timor-Leste then taking over the presidency on a temporary (‘pro tempore’) basis.

When asked about the upcoming CPLP presidency, the foreign minister, Paulo Rangel, replied that “[this] is a matter that must be discussed”, which could be “prepared through talks among the foreign ministers”, but “it is something which, quite frankly, remains to be finalised”.

“Discussions are taking place; nor is there, as it were, any immediate urgency, and we have been looking into this issue with a view to building a consensus, because there must be a consensus,” he added.

With the organisation’s next presidency still undecided, the venue for the CPLP Heads of State and Government summit scheduled for July 2027 has yet to be confirmed.

The CPLP, which marks its 30th anniversary on 17 July, comprises Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste.

NYC/ADB // ADB.

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