The organic structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation consists of the General Secretariat, responsible for ensuring instrumental or support services for the internal functioning of the ministry, in the areas of general work, financial management and coordinating with respective 8 national directorates under its administration; the General Directorate for Bilateral Affairs, responsible for monitoring and coordinating the diplomatic relations among Timor-Leste with other States over three national directorates; the General Directorate for Multilateral and Regional Affairs, responsible for monitoring and coordinating Timor-Leste's participation within the framework of international organizations with the reinforcement by 3 National Directorates; the Directorate General for ASEAN Affairs, responsible for monitoring the ASEAN accession process. This directorate has 3 national Directorates; the General Directorate for Consular and Protocol Affairs, responsible for administer the network of Timor-Leste's consular posts, and organizing the State's protocol under the establishment of the three core national directorates; Lastly, the Inspection and Audit Office that responsible for verifying compliance with legislation and regulations relating to the functioning of the Ministry's internal and external peripheral services. The Inspection and Audit Office reports directly to the Minister. The Inspector of the Inspection and Audit Office, appointed under the terms of the management and leadership positions of the Public Administration.
Minister Profile
BENDITO DOS SANTOS FREITAS
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Bendito dos Santos Freitas was born in Leorema, Bazartete, Liquiçá, Timor-Leste, on the 10th of December of 1963, in the period of Portuguese Administration. He attended the Primary School at Colégio Infante Sagres, in Maliana and complemented the Junior, Senior High School and Complementary School at Externato de S. José, Balide and at the Diocesan Seminary of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Lahane.
He graduated in Literary Sciences and Philosophy from the Institute of Philosophy and Theology (STFT) Widya Sasana, in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. In 1999, he was awarded the British Chevening Scholarship through the British Council Office in Jakarta, Indonesia, and completed his Masters (MA) in International Relations and Strategic Studies at the Department of Politics and International Relations at Lancaster University, UK. During his master's degree, he studied theories of International Relations, Diplomacy, Peace Studies, Conflict Resolution Management, International Organizations, among other disciplines.
Between August 1998 and August 1999, Bendito dos Santos Freitas served as Provincial Management Consultant (PMC) for the Subdistrict Development Programs (SDP) in cooperation with the World Bank. From October 2000 to March 2004, he was the National Programme Officer for the Governance and Capacity Development Unit (NPO) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Dili, Timor-Leste. Bendito Freitas was also a professor for the Department of Politics and Social Sciences at the Universidade da Paz, from April 2003 to May 2004.
Bendito dos Santos Freitas served as Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) in the IV Constitutional Government, from August 2007 to August 2012, and as Minister of Education in the V Constitutional Government, from August 2012 to February 2015. He was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the People's Republic of China, a position he held from 15 November 2015 to 31 December 2019.
Between October 2021 and May 2022, he was a member of the Council of State of the Presidency of the Republic and, subsequently, Chief of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, where he supported the President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dr. José Ramos-Horta. He left the position of Chief of the Civil House on July 1, 2023 to assume the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the IX Constitutional Government, led by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
Vice Minister Profile
JESUÍNA MARIA FERREIRA GOMES
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Jesuína Maria Ferreira Gomes was born in Atsabe (Ermera), Timor-Leste, on 26 April 1972. She currently serves as Vice Minister ofForeign Affairs and Cooperation ofthe Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. She brings over two decades of distinguished service in public administration, governance, and human rights at both national and international levels.
Prior to her current appointment, she served as Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic and as Chairperson of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening accountability, promoting good governance, and safeguarding citizens’ rights. Her earlier roles include Deputy Ombudsman, Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission, and Inspector General of the Ministry of State Administration and Territorial Management, contributing significantly to civil service reform and institutional capacity- building in Timor-Leste.
In addition to her government service, she has an academic background as a lecturer at the National University of Timor-Leste, specializing in public administration, governance, and organizational management. She has also contributed to international development programs through her work with organizations such as AusAID, USAID, and the United States Peace Corps.
She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, a Bachelor’s degree in Governmental Science from the Institute of Governmental Studies in Jakarta, Indonesia, and a Diploma (Level III) in Governmental Science from the School of Government of Home Affairs (STPDN), Jatinangor, Indonesia. She is fluent in Tetum, English, and Indonesian, with working proficiency in Portuguese.
In recognition ofher service, she was awarded the Order ofTimor-Leste (Collar Degree) in 2023. She continues to actively represent Timor-Leste in regional and international forums, advancing the country’s diplomatic engagement, human rights agenda, and commitment to peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Profile
MILENA MARIA DA COSTA RANGEL
Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Her Excellency Milena Maria da Costa Rangel serves as the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs in
the IX Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste, a position she assumed on July 1, 2023. In this role, she leads Timor-Leste's efforts toward full ASEAN membership, overseeing the implementation of the ASEAN Roadmap with a focus on infrastructure development, human resource capacity-building, and alignment with ASEAN's policy and legal instruments across the
three community pillars: the Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Communities. A career diplomat, Vice Minister Rangel has a distinguished history of service within the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. She has held several key leadership roles, including Director for Multilateral Affairs, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Director for Regional Economic Affairs, Counselor and Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and Counselor at the Embassy of Timor-
Leste in London, United Kingdom. Later, as Director General for ASEAN Affairs for over five years, she played a pivotal role in
laying the groundwork for Timor-Leste's observer status in ASEAN. Before joining the diplomatic service, Vice Minister Rangel worked extensively in the
development and governance sectors. She served as a National Advisor for Youth Development Programs at the World Bank and as a
Program Officer for Governance and Human Rights at UNDP and UNICEF in Timor-Leste. Vice Minister Rangel holds a master's degree in Development Studies from the University of Queensland, Australia. She obtained a certificate in Women and Leadership from the cole Nationale d'Administration in France (now the Institut National du Service Public) and completed a Senior Fellowship in Public Service at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at
the National University of Singapore.
She is fluent in English, Tetum, Portuguese, and Indonesian.
She is married and has three children.
Secretary General Profile
AMBASSADOR JOÃO FREITAS DE CÂMARA
O Secretário-Geral do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros e Cooperação de Timor-Leste
O Embaixador João Freitas de Câmara tem sido uma parte integrante do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros e Cooperação desde a sua criação, contribuindo para o estabelecimento e crescimento da instituição. Ao longo da sua carreira, ocupou várias posições, incluindo o cargo de Embaixador de Timor-Leste em Myanmar e na Tailândia. Também já desempenhou anteriormente papéis na gestão do ministério como Diretor-Geral e Secretário-Geral.
O Embaixador João Freitas de Câmara tem sido uma parte integrante do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros e Cooperação desde a sua criação, contribuindo para o estabelecimento e crescimento da instituição. Ao longo da sua carreira, ocupou vários cargos, incluindo o de Embaixador de Timor-Leste na Tailândia e Mianmar, bem como cargos de gestão sénior no ministério como Diretor-Geral e Secretário-Geral, que ocupa agora pela segunda vez.
O Sr. Câmara formou-se em Direito pela Universidade Católica, UNIKA ATMA JAYA em Jacarta, Indonésia, e prosseguiu os estudos em Economia na Universidade Aberta de Jacarta. Além disso, obteve um mestrado em Gestão e Desenvolvimento Organizacional pela Assumption University em Bangkok, Tailândia.
Antes da sua carreira diplomática, o Sr. Câmara teve uma longa história de envolvimento no movimento de resistência pela independência de Timor-Leste. Serviu como colaborador para a Região de Bobonaro, Setor da Fronteira Sul, de 1976 a 1979. Enquanto estudou na Indonésia, esteve envolvido na resistência clandestina em Jacarta e arredores entre 1980 e 1991, o que levou à sua captura e detenção na Prisão de Cipinang em Jacarta de 1991 a 1999, quando o país foi finalmente libertado. Reconhecendo a sua dedicação, foi-lhe atribuída a Medalha da Ordem de Nicolau Lobato, Grau B, pelos anos de serviço na resistência armada e clandestina.
O Sr. Câmara é fluente em português, inglês e indonésio, bem como em kemak e tetum, duas das muitas línguas nativas de Timor-Leste.
MoFAC Chart’s
