The European Union has pledged continued support for São Tomé and Príncipe's peacebuilding efforts, including deploying an Election Observation Mission for the country's 2026 elections, according to a statement delivered on 12 June 2026 at the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Ambassadorial-level meeting in New York. The EU also welcomed progress on the national prevention strategy and justice sector reforms.
The statement, delivered on behalf of the EU by its delegation to the UN in New York, highlighted São Tomé and Príncipe's return to the PBC as a sign of commitment to sustaining peace. The EU noted that the country's national prevention strategy, developed with UN support and the Peacebuilding Fund, exemplifies nationally owned conflict prevention.
Justice remains a main area of EU cooperation with São Tomé and Príncipe, in close collaboration with Portugal. The EU encouraged national authorities to continue coordinating international partner support in this domain. The EU also welcomed progress in establishing a National Human Rights Commission and reforms in the justice and security sectors.
At the government's invitation, the EU will deploy an Election Observation Mission for both the presidential election on 19 July and the parliamentary and local elections on 27 September. The EU welcomed the Santomean authorities' commitment to implement key recommendations from the 2022 EU Election Observation Mission to improve future electoral processes, with EU and Member State support through bilateral and thematic programmes.
The statement reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting peacebuilding in São Tomé and Príncipe and to sustained engagement with the PBC.
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