On 11 December 2025, a ceremony to sign the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Turkmenistan and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe took place in Ashgabat.
The document was signed by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov, and the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Celsu Vaz du Nascimento Matus.
Upon completion of the ceremony, the parties congratulated the governments and peoples of both countries on this important step. It was emphasized that the establishment of diplomatic relations will serve as a significant impetus for strengthening friendly ties, as well as for developing cooperation in political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. Particular attention was paid to interaction on the platforms of international organizations, primarily within the framework of the United Nations.
President of São Tomé and Príncipe Carlos Manuel Vila Nova visited Turkmenistan twice this year – in August to participate in the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, and in December to attend the International Forum on Peace and Trust in Ashgabat. On 11 December 2025, a meeting took place between Carlos Manuel Vila Nova and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, during which it was noted that Turkmenistan, considering the significant prospects for developing relations with African states, pays special attention to cooperation with countries in the region.
The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is an island nation in Central Africa, located in the Gulf of Guinea on the volcanic archipelago of São Tomé, Príncipe, and several smaller islands. The country’s area is 1,001 km², making it the second-smallest country in Africa by territory after the Seychelles. It is also the smallest Portuguese-speaking country in the world.
Thanks to fertile volcanic soils, a long growing season, and abundant rainfall, São Tomé and Príncipe has ideal conditions for tropical agriculture. The country’s economy traditionally relies on plantation farming, primarily the cultivation of cocoa beans, which form a significant part of its exports.///nCa, 16 December 2025