Nilda da Mata elected Sao Tome and Principe parliament president
The former environment minister secured unanimous support from 55 deputies in the new legislature.
Nilda da Mata, 50, a deputy from the ADI party, became the third woman to lead Sao Tome and Principe's National Assembly on November 11, 2026. She was elected unanimously by the 55 deputies sworn in for the XIII legislature.
Da Mata, a former minister of environment, youth, and sustainable development, stated it was an honour to occupy the same seat as Alda do Espírito Santo, the assembly's first female president. She promised a shared and unifying presidency, aiming for exemplary institutional relations in the country's semi-presidential system.
The National Assembly is the centre of political power in Sao Tome and Principe, with deputies influencing the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. Da Mata, as the second highest state figure, presides over this central sovereign body.
Why it mattersNilda da Mata's election as president of the National Assembly places her as the second highest figure in the state, influencing the country's political direction.