Dinazalda “Didi” Diogo is a fish monger in the small town of Neves in São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) an island nation off the western coast of Central Africa left for Portugal about a year ago with the hope to study at the university Joana’s plan was to finance her living expenses and support her family back home by working on the side but without any prior professional experience she has not been able to secure a job in Portugal and is struggling financially This has left Didi very worried: “I am actually the one thinking about sending money to her now,” she said 68 percent of young Saotomeans say they are considering leaving the country to secure better opportunities abroad The island economy is not currently creating sufficient quality jobs and social protection remains limited A third of the working age population who is not at school is economically inactive Unemployment is 10 percentage point higher than in other lower middle-income countries and particularly acute among youth (21 percent) With almost two thirds of the population under the age of 35 STP is currently facing significant emigration pressures As highlighted in the 2023 World Development Report migration can significantly contribute to socioeconomic development in both origin and destination countries including through knowledge transfers and financial remittances the drivers and impacts of migration have been little studied in the STP and there is a general sense that the country may not be significantly benefiting from it as well as interviews with migrant families increased labor mobility has not translated in meaningful economic gains The volume of remittances contributed by Saotomean migrants is small and has actually been decreasing over the past decade while a Saotomean migrant sends an average of US$266 per year a migrant from Cabo Verde (another Portuguese-speaking lower middle-income island country) manages to send US$1,525 Remittance inflows as share of GDP in selected African low and lower middle-income countries options to send remittances back to STP are currently limited migration can also profoundly impact household dynamics the responsibility to care for children is often transferred to other family members or friends This can lead to emotional challenges for children with potential consequences on their social and cognitive development as our interviews with Saotomean migrants confirmed.  Migration can impact children’s education and quality of care Towards a more beneficial migration model in STP Global evidence provides valuable lessons that could help address these challenges: 2.      Establishing labor mobility partnerships: Legal migration agreements with countries like Portugal could help better align the skills of migrants with the needs of destination labor markets. For example, Global Skill Partnerships help ensure that migrants are well equipped to contribute 3.      Strengthening migration support systems: Effective migration requires robust systems to support migrants and their families This could include intermediation services to connect migrants with employers abroad or a mobilization of the diaspora to encourage contributions to national development 4.      Enhancing remittance infrastructure: Innovations in digital payment services, such as Dobra Digital to make remittance channels more accessible and affordable Governments and financial institutions can then incentivize migrants to adopt these services 5.      Supporting families left behind: Migrant family members who remain in the country should be protected through social assistance, such as through the World Bank-financed Vulnerable Family Program (VFP) with special attention to children and adolescents Adopting some of these recommendations could help STP better leverage migration as a driver of development while minimizing its social costs This could go a long way to help families like Didi’s her daughter Joana could secure a stable job abroad while continuing her studies and supporting her family Didi remains optimistic: “I hope my daughter will finish her education and later return to São Tomé to look after me.” Thank you for choosing to be part of the People Move community The latest blog posts and blog-related announcements will be delivered directly to your email inbox Social Protection Specialist at the World Bank Download a copy of the report on climate refugees to read later 13 December 2024 – The Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS) congratulates São Tomé and Príncipe on its graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category This milestone marks a significant achievement in the country’s development journey and reflects its sustained efforts to achieve robust economic growth and improve resilience against vulnerabilities The graduation of São Tomé and Príncipe also underscores the international community's collective efforts to support LDCs in their development trajectories It is the result of years of strategic planning The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) recommended the country’s graduation following its fulfillment of the criteria based on per capita income and economic and environmental vulnerability indices Notable accomplishments include the increase in universal health coverage from 47% in 2010 to 59% by 2021 and being ranked 11th among 54 African nations in the 2021 Ibrahim Index of African Governance “The graduation of São Tomé and Príncipe is a historic milestone that underscores the resilience and determination of its government and people,” said Ms High Representative for the Least Developed Countries “This achievement is a powerful testament to the impact of effective partnership and multilateral cooperation offering both a model and an inspiration for other LDCs working to overcome structural challenges and achieve sustainable development.” Graduating from the LDC category is not an end but a new chapter in a country’s sustainable development journey São Tomé and Príncipe integrated elements of a smooth transition strategy into its national development strategy focusing on maintaining access to concessional financing and enhancing climate resilience to safeguard progress and sustain momentum toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “São Tomé and Príncipe’s graduation from the LDC category is an important step forward but it also comes with heightened expectations and responsibilities,” said Mr the Chargé d’Affaires of São Tomé and Príncipe’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York “Consolidating this progress will require coordinated efforts to address economic and environmental vulnerabilities while leveraging international partnerships to support sustainable development,” he added Poverty remains a major issue in São Tomé and Príncipe with 66.7% of the population living below the poverty line in 2017 marked by inflation reaching 17% in 2023 and rising public debt The economy remains extremely vulnerable to external shocks due to its reliance on a small number of exports environmental issues such as climate change and deforestation pose additional threats to socioeconomic stability the office is mobilizing resources and strengthening capacities to address challenges and seize new opportunities for growth in the country It will continue to advocate for targeted international support measures and partnerships to ensure that São Tomé and Príncipe and other LDC graduates thrive in their new development paths As the global community celebrates this remarkable achievement it is a reminder of the urgent need to accelerate progress for the 44 remaining Least Developed Countries which collectively face immense challenges exacerbated by global crises such as climate change The Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS) is dedicated to advocating for the sustainable development of LDCs It promotes global awareness of their unique challenges and mobilizes international support for their development priorities For more info on LDCs including graduation from the LDC category click here For the list of Least Developed Countries click here For the “Roadmap to Doha Programme of Action” click here Please follow any highlights and updates for Least Development Countries using hashtags #LDCs May Yaacoub, Head of Advocacy and Outreach, Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; Email: yaacoubm@un.org Tweets by UNOHRLLS Follow @UNOHRLLS Search for a publication Search for a meeting © Shutterstock/Wirestock Creators | Sao Tome and Principe is an island nation situated off the western equatorial coast of central Africa On 13 December, Sao Tome and Principe exits the least developed countries (LDC) category established by the United Nations General Assembly The small island developing state off the coast of central Africa has emerged as a more stable and viable economy with strides in education The progress was in part bolstered by international support including technical assistance from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) The list of LDCs currently registers 44 Sao Tome and Principe's average gross national income per capita reached $2,271 well above the LDC graduation threshold set at $1,306 Similarly, the country’s score on the Human Assets Index a measure of health and education outcomes far exceeding the graduation threshold of 66 Sao Tome and Principe needs to continue overcoming vulnerabilities linked to its geographic isolation small size of national markets and heavy reliance on the agricultural sector Debt distress – when a nation defaults on its financial obligations and debt restructuring is required – also weighs on the Sao Tomean economy. Its slowing real GDP growth, under 2% between 2021 and 2023, underlines the need for structural reforms to diversify the economy and enhance resilience to external and climate-related risks, particularly floods and rising sea levels. Graduation could reduce Sao Tome and Principe’s access to certain international support measures exclusive to LDCs. These can be trade preferences or concessional financing options – some bound to expire upon graduation and others with a transition period. The country therefore needs a strategic approach to effectively managing the shift and mitigating potential adverse impacts on the economy. Beyond graduation, UNCTAD remains committed to supporting Sao Tome and Principe’s efforts to diversify exports, enhance productive capacities and improve its business environment. Concerted efforts from the global community – including development partners and multilateral organizations – are also essential to provide technical assistance, share best practices and shore up resources the country needs to tackle post-graduation challenges. The small island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is home to incredible wildlife, uncrowded beaches, and four stunning boutique resorts from HBD Príncipe, a Travel + Leisure 2025 Global Vision Award winner. Stephanie Vermillion is a travel journalist and photographer covering culture and adventure for Travel + Leisure Outside, and more. GERALDINE BRUNEEL/COURTESY OF HBD PRÍNCIPE Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. High levels of unemployment coexist with a critical labour shortage on the former plantations where wages and working conditions are poor and foreign food aid has undermined the production of food crops for the local market Fine stands of timber remain in the mountains but the difficulty of removing logs from the steep terrain and the pressing need for effective conservation limit long-term prospects The country’s small size prevents farmers from keeping large herds of livestock but conditions for poultry raising are quite favourable an area of overlapping maritime boundaries about 125 miles (200 km) from the Nigerian coast after which oil companies began bidding for the right to develop sections within the JDZ The first exploratory drilling in the JDZ began in 2006 Manufacturing, which accounts for a tiny fraction of the gross domestic product is hampered by the small size of the domestic market It consists mainly of small processing factories producing foodstuffs and the expense of traveling to the country Transportation assumes particular importance in this isolated microstate and large ships must anchor far out at sea and be unloaded by barge Shipping links between the islands and with the outside world are erratic and there are long delays in unloading cargo The country’s primary ports are at São Tomé city and Neves The international airport near São Tomé city has been expanded and modernized The telephone system and road network are both fairly good by African standards Mobile phone use is very popular on the islands Experiential travel and yachting company Pelorus is introducing Sao Tome and Principe as its newest destination Described by Pelorus as the "West African Galapagos" for its endemic biodiversity and untouched landscapes the remote island nation becomes the operator's flagship destination for 2025 The company has been soft-launching the archipelago by sending select travelers there throughout 2024 before formally announcing it as their featured destination for next year the destination is accessible via flights from Lisbon or Ghana "There has never been a better time to travel to this beautiful nation," said Geordie Mackay-Lewis who co-founded the company with Jimmy Carroll "This follows a number of years of dedicated governmental focus on preserving its biodiversity." The company reports a 200% increase in demand for conservation-led experiences with 42% of their 2024 bookings including immersive cultural components Pelorus will offer several distinctive experiences in the destination including bespoke mobile camps in remote locations community-based activities such as foraging and fishing with locals and wildlife expeditions in partnership with conservation organizations The islands are home to approximately 120 bird species (28 endemic) and four turtle species with rainforests covering 90% of the island of Principe Adventure offerings include waterfall abseiling motorbike exploration and private boat excursions to hidden coves Culinary experiences focus on the islands' Portuguese-African fusion cuisine cacao and vanilla plantations and locally crafted gin tastings Pelorus' destination program was developed following extensive research in collaboration with local experts reflecting the company's focus on high-value Sao Tome and Principe joins a select list of destinations under active development by Pelorus that aim to balance exploration with ecological stewardship For more information visit the Pelorus website or email info@pelorusx.com or call (800) 659-0217  President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe  Patrice Trovoada who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on  China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and for an official visit at the  Great Hall of the People in Beijing The leaders of the two countries  announced the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a strategic  partnership Xi Jinping pointed out that  in recent years China's relations with Sao Tome and Principe have  maintained a sound momentum of development and the two countries have  achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation in various fields  Facts have proved that Sao Tome and Principe's return to the  China-Africa family of friendly cooperation fully conforms to the common  interests of the two peoples support Sao Tome  and Principe's efforts to advance national construction and economic  development and stands ready to work with Sao Tome and Principe to  actively implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and promote  the strategic partnership between the two countries to better benefit  the people Xi Jinping stressed that the  two sides should keep to the general direction of friendship  strengthen the sharing of experience in state governance consolidate  and enhance strategic mutual trust and firmly support each other on  issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns He  called on the two sides to explore cooperation in areas such as tourism so that Sao Tome and  Principe can benefit more from the outcomes of the summit China is  willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Sao Tome and  Principe on international and regional issues to safeguard the common  interests of the two countries and other developing countries Patrice Trovoada said that every time he  visits China He thanked China for  providing invaluable assistance to Sao Tome and Principe's economic  development saying that the new measures announced by President Xi  Jinping at the opening ceremony of the FOCAC Summit in the morning will  significantly boost the development of Sao Tome and Principe and Africa  Sao Tome and Principe highly appreciates President Xi Jinping for  putting forward the building of a community with a shared future for  mankind and other important visions and initiatives Sao Tome and  Principe firmly abides by the one-China principle and hopes to further  consolidate political mutual trust between the two countries and  enhance the partnership so as to provide a strong guarantee for  Sao Tome and Principe's long-term economic development The  two sides issued the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of  China and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe on  Establishing a Strategic Partnership 习近平会见圣多美和普林西比总理特罗瓦达 Technical Support: Information Center of Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Dozens of tourists have gathered at the Vila Maria beach on the island of São Tomé and Príncipe to watch as 400 baby sea turtles are released into the sea The turtle hatchlings have spent two months incubating in the sand in nesting sites monitored by islanders working to protect the endangered species them going to their natural habitat after being born on the sand," says Jeremias Rodrigues São Tomé and Príncipe is the only breeding refuge for the Sada turtle The protection and preservation of these species in the archipelago is a constant challenge The release is overseen as part of an initiative of the Tatô programme an international NGO based on the island of São Tomé and Príncipe which manages the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems we have the last reproductive species on the West African coast can increase and repopulate this area," says Antunes de Pina we have people who work at night to protect them they collect data that is important for us to carry out studies and we also take a lot of advantage of this to raise awareness," she explains The Tatô programme has been the main driver of sea turtle conservation and community empowerment in São Tomé Its work involves tackling the complex socio-economic challenges and the threats persisting on the island demonstrating the importance of working with an integrative approach on a wide range of fields such as research monitoring and protection of critical nesting and foraging grounds capacity building and economic diversification; education communication and multi-stakeholder public awareness said that as a small island developing State his country bears the brunt of climate change which represents the greatest existential threat to the country even though Sao Tome and Principe produces only a tiny portion of greenhouse gases it suffers the most from the effects of climate change coastal erosion and a loss of biodiversity  The international community must respect commitments made in the Paris Agreement on climate change and listen to the most affected countries  The upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Baku is a crucial moment to reaffirm a collective commitment to limit global warming to 1.5°C  Concrete actions must address the impacts of climate change and the largest emitters must fulfil their “historical and moral” obligations in reducing their emissions while also honouring their promises of climate financing to developing countries Though the country is already investing in solutions such as sustainable use of marine resources and renewable energies support is required for scaling up those solutions to be fit to task Sustainable development is not a choice for Sao Tome and Principe but a necessity and against the backdrop of the rapidly approaching deadline for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  Support for development must be renewed and new models of partnership between States must be explored  Without an international environment that promotes free trade and peace  The importance of strengthening multilateralism and ensuring that all States  “Multilateralism is our best tool for tackling collective challenges that transcend borders,” he added he said that the continent continues to be the scene of protracted conflicts requiring diplomatic intervention and African solutions for African problems in respect of the sovereignty of States  Addressing conflicts in the Middle East he said that diplomatic efforts must be redoubled for the peaceful resolution of conflicts adding:  “There can be no development without peace “The future we want must be built on the foundations of cooperation solidarity and mutual understanding,” he recalled underlining that COVID‑19 illuminated the reality of interdependence of nations and the need for cooperation to address global challenges  “The world’s current affliction is not inevitable,” he said Without the United Nations and with all countries divided the world has changed since the Organization’s inception and must evolve Sao Tome and Principe advocates for Security Council reform in particular “the need to think of Africa as a part of the world”  The Council cannot continue reflecting the same power structures of 1945 he called for an end to the unjust embargo on Cuba and reaffirmed support for Morocco’s sovereignty as well the country’s efforts to find a “peaceful and credible solution to the dispute” as well as the Morocco-Nigeria pipeline initiative which reflects regional integration and sustainable growth Listen to and download the full statement in mp3 format UN PhotoPrevious sessionsAccess the statements from previous sessions Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article as the stigma attached to being diagnosed with the disease and the subsequent lack of accurate reporting make the rate of infection difficult to monitor although there is a polytechnic institute (founded 1997) and Portugal’s Lusíada University opened a campus on São Tomé island in 2006 Some four-fifths of the adult population is literate local practices have been restricted largely to baptism and a few rites Various traditional African practices and beliefs have always coexisted with Roman Catholicism Many African elements have been adopted in the cooking and most people of lower socioeconomic status speak only creole in daily life Famous examples of cultural creolization are the plays The Tragic Story of the Marquis of Mântua and Emperor Charlemagne (known as Tchiloli on São Tomé island) and Auto da Floripes both of which are based on 16th-century Portuguese dramas Several local newspapers appear erratically but the government-run radio and television stations provide consistent programming and broadcasts from Portugal and France are locally retransmitted on FM channels has fired his country's government and its prime minister Nova accused Prime Minister Patrice Emery Trovoada of "prolonged absences" and said the government had failed to provide solutions to major economic and financial challenges It is not yet clear what specifically precipitated his decision to summarily dismiss the current administration but he has given his party — to which Trovoada also belongs — 72 hours to form a new government The island nation is generally regarded as a stable democracy in a region often marked by violent transfers of power military juntas and long-term dictatorships São Tomé and Príncipe faced a failed coup attempt in November 2022 which saw four assailants killed by security forces in the midst of an assault on the country's military barracks that Trovoada described as "an attack with weapons of war on the country’s armed forces" among them former presidential candidate Delfim Neves who had insisted that an election earlier that year had been rigged against him According to international NGO Freedom House Trovoada's government has since installed many of its allies in public positions It has also been accused of promoting and protecting military officers who participated in the abuse of people captured during the coup attempt While São Tomé and Príncipe is generally credited with maintaining strong political institutions corruption and bad governance — particularly when it comes to public services and the uses of foreign aid and investment — have fuelled popular discontent and protests Derley Camble is a Sao Tome native and aspiring surfer who crafts traditional boards out of scrap wood low cost boards have inspired a new generation to take up the sport on the island Derley Camble is from Sao Tome and and Principe and an aspiring surfer who crafts traditional boards out of scrap wood low-cost boards have inspired a new generation to take up the sport except for the S&P 500 which is refreshed every two minutes Chicago Mercantile: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco Standard & Poor’s and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC All content of the Dow Jones branded indices Copyright S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates Market holidays and trading hours provided by Copp Clark Limited '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" READ MONOGRAPH Sérvulo‘s public law team has prepared the Strategic and Operational Plan for Public Procurement in São Tomé and Príncipe for the 2025–2030 five-year period the plan aims to equip the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe with the necessary tools to improve the overall public procurement strategy This follows the previous development of the Public Contracts Law Project held on January 28 in São Tomé and Santo António do Príncipe Pedro Fernández Sánchez presented the contents of the new plan to the minister of Finance of São Tomé and Príncipe the President of the Regional Government of Príncipe and officials from various authorities involved in the country’s public procurement system procurement units from different ministries The advisors team was composed of Pedro Fernández Sánchez along with Guilherme Posser da Costa and Ana Posser partners at Posser da Costa & Associados (De Juris) Sérvulo Latitude’s partner firm in São Tomé and Príncipe ETL GLOBAL and UPF-BSM sign collaboration agreement Salvi Groupe acquires Dietrans: the advisors It represents the main source of information in the legal business sector in Spain and Portugal The digital magazine – and its portal – address to the protagonists of law firms and in-house lawyers The magazine is available for free on the website and on Google Play and App Store information about deals and their advisors For further information, please visit the Group’s website www.lcpublishinggroup.com Metrics details The mosquito microbiome significantly influences vector competence Describing the microbiome and Wolbachia strains of Ae albopictus from different regions can guide area-specific control strategies Mosquito samples from Spain and São Tomé were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic sequencing Wolbachia infection patterns were observed by sex and population a factor considered in analyzing their microbiota Results revealed a dominance of dual Wolbachia infections in the microbiome of both populations of Ae although 5 and 9 other genera were only present in Spain and São Tomé populations Genera like Pelomonas and Nevskia were identified for the first time in Aedes mosquitoes This study is the first to describe the Ae albopictus bacteriome in Spain and São Tomé offering insights for the development of targeted mosquito control strategies Understanding the specific microbiome composition can help in designing more effective interventions such as microbiome manipulation and Wolbachia-based approaches to reduce vector competence and transmission potential of these mosquitoes and effective management and control of these disease vectors are crucial for reducing these risks of transmission Describing the native strains of our target-populations is the first step to assess possible interactions between the naturally occurring Wolbachia strains and the introduced type Given the significance of understanding and managing vector-borne diseases this study aimed to examine and to compare the microbiome composition and characterize the presence of Wolbachia strains in populations of Ae albopictus from two countries with distinct climatic and geographical conditions: São Tomé and Príncipe (Africa) and Spain (Europe) Investigation on the composition of the microbiome and Wolbachia strains in Ae albopictus populations from these distinct geographical regions could provide valuable knowledge into potential control measures tailored to the specific problems of each area By understanding the microbiome composition and the prevalence of different Wolbachia strains researchers can develop targeted strategies such as microbiome manipulation or Wolbachia-based interventions to reduce the vector competence and transmission potential of these mosquitoes This information could help develop new vector control strategies and contribute to reducing the global burden of vector-borne diseases Map indicating collection sites for Ae. albopictus. (A) Map of Spain showing the sampling locations in Valencia (Paterna), Huesca (Monzón), and Málaga (Rincón de La Victoria); (B) Regional map indicating the relative positions of Spain and São Tomé, per continent. (C) Map of São Tomé showing the sampling location in Água Grande. The map was generated with QGIS v3.34 software (https://qgis.org/en/site/) albopictus colonies were subsequently established and maintained in the high-security insectary of the 'In Vivo Arthropod Security Facility' (VIASEF) available at IHMT These colonies were initiated from a parental generation (F0) and maintained until the second generation (F2) larvae were reared under controlled laboratory conditions (temperature: 26 ± 2 °C photoperiod: 12 h/12 h light/dark) and fed with Tetra Min flakes fish food (Tetra The fish food flakes were processed into powder before being administered to the larvae Adult mosquitoes were provided with a 10% glucose solution and females were blood-fed on Mus musculus two to three times a week The process of handling the animals used occurred under supervision and was carried out based on Community Council standards European Union of 24 November 1986 (86/609/EEC) and national legislation in force (Decree-Law 129/92 of June 2nd All animal experiments were based on protocols approved by the Direção-Geral de Veterinária Ministério da Agricultura do Desenvolvimento Rural e das Pescas Portugal (ID approvals: 023351 and 023355) DNA extractions from a total of 199 adult mosquitoes were carried out using two distinct methods tailored to the specific requirements of our analyses For the purpose of sequencing the 16S rRNA gene in a subset of 19 female samples we employed the "NZY tissue gDNA isolation kit" provided by NZYtech the 19 samples were treated with 10% bleach and finally distilled water to sterilize the mosquitoes These selected samples originated from adult female mosquitoes belonging to the F0 generation specifically targeted for our 16S rRNA gene sequencing study to provide a detailed microbiome analysis The selection of these 19 samples was based on ensuring a representative subset that included mosquitoes from both geographic locations (Spain and São Tomé and Príncipe) and aimed to capture any potential differences in microbiota composition between these regions The limited number of samples for 16S rRNA gene sequencing was due to resource constraints and the need to focus on a manageable subset for high-throughput sequencing and in-depth microbiome characterization This approach was applied to both male and female adult mosquitoes from the F0 and F1 generations to facilitate a comprehensive comparison of Wolbachia prevalence and strain distribution across the populations under study All DNA extractions were performed on individual mosquitoes to ensure accurate representation of each mosquito’s microbiome and Wolbachia infection status To ensure the integrity of our DNA extraction process and to eliminate the possibility of contamination negative controls were systematically included in each batch of extractions This method capitalizes on Shannon entropy selectively considering only the informative nucleotide positions thus enabling the delineation of sequences based on single nucleotide variances without the interference of random sequencing errors All sequences have been submitted to NCBI under the accession number for SRA data PRJNA1028981 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA1028981) Mixed and single infection rates were calculated by sex and population41 Comparisons between mixed and single infections in females and males were performed using the chi-square test A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant Venn diagram showing shared and unshared genera between the Spain and São Tomé populations The rarefaction analysis confirmed that our sequencing effort was adequate suggesting that additional sequencing would likely yield few additional OTUs Tables 2 and 3 provide an overview of the taxonomic units identified in samples from São Tomé and Spain Taxonomic units with readings below 0.1% were categorized as "other." OTU readings analysis showed a predominance of the genus Wolbachia in all samples ranging between 92.4 and 98.8% in São Tomé samples and between 96.1 and 97.5% in Spanish samples Shannon and Simpson indices (Table 4) revealed similar bacterial diversity between Spanish and São Tomé populations, as well as among individual samples (Supplementary Table S4) only mixed infections by wAlbAeB were found it was the only place where negative samples (N = 2) were detected in males Pelomonas and Nevskia are often found in environmental samples raising the question of whether these bacteria could be externally adhered to the mosquitoes we ensured that the mosquitoes were thoroughly cleaned before DNA extraction The cleaning process involved washing the mosquitoes with a solution of 0.1% bleach followed by 70% alcohol This procedure is designed to remove external contaminants thereby ensuring that the DNA extracted and analyzed represents the internal microbiome the presence of Pelomonas and Nevskia is likely indicative of their role within the mosquito microbiome rather than external contamination which is naturally abundant in the ovaries does not interfere with the sequencing data The impact of blood meals and rearing within an insectary environment on the Ae albopictus microbiome warrants thorough investigation and future studies should consider the analysis of larvae’s microbiome and the bacterial diversity of the breeding water is not possible to assume that males in this region do not host Wolbachia the absence of infected males in São Tomé may be related to the lower prevalence of endosymbiont infection in males and the small sample size (N = 2) This small sample size limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions and may not accurately represent the population and future studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to validate this finding and provide a more accurate representation of Wolbachia prevalence in the male mosquito population from São Tomé These findings underscore IIT's potential as a future tool for Ae this study significantly enhances our understanding of the bacterial microbiome of Ae albopictus populations from Spain and São Tomé Our study provides valuable insights into the microbiota composition of Ae revealing the presence of Wolbachia and other bacterial endosymbionts which establishes a foundational framework for future manipulations and the introduction of new strains for vector control As the scientific community intensifies its search for innovative and effective methods to combat vector-borne diseases the insights from this study become increasingly invaluable albopictus is predominantly governed by the Wolbachia genus The dominance of Wolbachia in both populations suggests a stable association which could be considered a part of the core microbiota of Ae The concept of core microbiota refers to the set of microbial taxa that are consistently found across different populations of a host species regardless of geographical location or environmental conditions we identified several bacterial genera that were shared between the Spanish and São Tomé populations which may play crucial roles in the mosquito's physiology the identification of novel genera like Pelomonas and Nevskia in Ae albopictus highlights the dynamic nature of the mosquito microbiota and suggests potential new areas of research to explore their roles in mosquito biology and pathogen transmission The presence of these core and unique bacterial taxa emphasizes the importance of understanding the microbiota composition for developing targeted vector control strategies Despite the valuable insights provided by this study there are several limitations that should be acknowledged The most significant limitation is the small sample size used for the microbiome analysis and the Wolbachia genotype study The limited number of samples may have restricted the detection of the full diversity of the microbiota and Wolbachia strains potentially overlooking important taxa and variations although necessary for controlled conditions might not fully represent the natural microbiota found in field populations due to differences in environmental exposures and diet future studies should aim to include larger sample sizes and consider a broader range of geographical locations incorporating field-collected mosquitoes and longitudinal sampling could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the microbiota dynamics and their implications for vector competence and control strategies our study contributes to the understanding of Wolbachia strain distribution and prevalence in new geographical regions We observed a consistent dominance of Wolbachia across different populations reinforcing the stability of this endosymbiont's association with its host we also highlight the presence of dual infections with different Wolbachia strains which could have implications for vector control strategies leveraging Wolbachia-induced pathogen interference Future research directions to expand upon our findings include examining the impact of the bacterial microbiome on Ae evaluating the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in endosymbionts for vector control assessing the ecological consequences of microbiome manipulation and using advanced sequencing technologies for a more detailed understanding of the mosquito microbiome Sequence data that support the findings of this study have been deposited in the NCBI under the accession number for SRA data PRJNA1028981 (temporary submission ID: SUB13907152).SRA records will be accessible with the following link after the release date (2024-11-01): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/1028981 WHO. 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Evol. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a004087 (2002) Dirofilaria and Wolbachia in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in central European Russia and on the Black Sea coast Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains in natural populations of Aedes albopictus in China Wolbachia in native populations of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Yucatan Peninsula Infecciones por Wolbachia pipientis en poblaciones de Aedes albopictus en la ciudad de València (España): Implicaciones para el control de mosquitos Distribution of Wolbachia among neotropical arthropods Wolbachia Infection in European Populations of Aedes albopictus (Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical Maternal transmission efficiency of Wolbachia superinfections in Aedes albopictus populations in Thailand Bi, J. & Wang, Y. F. The effect of the endosymbiont Wolbachia on the behavior of insect hosts. Insect Sci. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.12731 (2020) Effects of crowding and temperature on Wolbachia infection density among life cycle stages of Aedes albopictus Wolbachia detection in field-collected mosquitoes from Cameroon Fitness advantage and cytoplasmic incompatibility in Wolbachia single- and superinfected Aedes albopictus Distribution and dynamics of Wolbachia infection in Malaysian Aedes albopictus Complex interplay of evolutionary forces shaping population genomic structure of invasive Aedes albopictus in southern Europe Population genomics of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus: Insights into the recent worldwide invasion Female adult Aedes albopictus suppression by Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes A bacterium against the tiger: Preliminary evidence of fertility reduction after release of Aedes albopictus males with manipulated Wolbachia infection in an Italian urban area Download references This work was initially conceived and designed during research stay of DBB at GHTM in 2019 as part of the Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSM) within the AIM-COST CA17108 Action this study was funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia funding to GHTM-UID/04413/2020 LA-REAL-LA/P/0117/2020 and “healTh RIsk and social vulnerability to Arboviral Diseases in mainland Portugal” (TRIAD)—Ref Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health Carla Alexandra Sousa & Gonçalo Seixas Departamento de Investigación y Desarrollo (I+D) Grupo de Investigación en Salud Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ) UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes (ENZOEM) C.A.S.; Manuscript writing: all authors; all authors reviewed the manuscript The authors declare no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71507-y Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Microbiology newsletter — what matters in microbiology research Indonesia and Sao Tome and Principe receive their first designations from FAO along with Austria’s second system The cocoa agroforestry system of Sao Tome and Principe has been added to the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) along with a unique carp pond farming system in Austria and an agroforestry system cultivating salak The systems were formally designated during a meeting of the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group Under the flagship programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) the sites selected are of global importance demonstrating food and livelihood security sustainable knowledge systems and practices social values and culture as well as outstanding landscapes Many sites showcase excellent practices to render agrifood systems more resilient to climate change and sustainable use and management of biodiversity and ecosystems With the newest addition to the global agricultural heritage systems list FAO’s worldwide agricultural heritage network now consists of 89 systems in 28 countries around the globe Cocoa agroforestry in Sao Tome and Principe The cocoa agroforestry system of Sao Tome and Principe is known for its high-quality Amelonado cocoa cocoa cultivation is integrated with other crops and trees creating a beneficial shade canopy that helps regulate the microclimate strengthens the livelihoods of farming families maintains biodiversity and exemplifies the resilience of its people in their commitment to building sustainable practices and development but the integration of diverse crops such as bananas and taro provides additional food sources and income streams enhancing resilience against market fluctuations and environmental stresses cocoa production on the island has been deeply interlinked with colonialism and slavery there has been a transformation towards local cooperatives that focus on high-quality fair-trade products and involve both women and men promoting gender inclusion and improving farmer livelihoods are helping to drive a growing agro-tourism sector for the island Sao Tome and Principe’s tropical forests are a global conservation priority being the second highest for bird and fauna conservation among 75 African forests The country is a leader in organic farming with over 25 percent of its agricultural land certified for organic production Carp pond farming in the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria is a unique aquaculture system with a 900-year history Using low stocking densities and traditional practices it maintains a biodiverse pond ecosystem that connects to the surrounding forests This sustainable practice supports biodiversity conserves water and preserves cultural heritage through the production of high-quality carp and innovative fish products The farming system supports the local economy not only through the sale of carp but also by promoting agrotourism and the innovative use of carp leather to create accessories the ponds offer ecological services such as water retention helping to regulate the local microclimate They also serve as important habitats for a variety of species The maintenance of this diverse ecosystem also helps to preserve the genetic diversity of carp and other species which is vital for adapting to future environmental changes integrates cultivation of salak - also known as the snakefruit because of its snakeskin-like peel - with diverse crops It was developed by the Indigenous Balinese People using the traditional subak system of water management while preserving cultural heritage and sustaining local livelihoods This practice enhances sustainability and resource efficiency Meanwhile the system integrates salak cultivation with various other crops Rooted in traditional Balinese philosophies like “Tri Hita Karana” and “Tri Mandala,” this system reflects a harmonious relationship between humans and spirituality that have been listed as UNESCO Cultural Landscapes Download photos from Sao Tome and Principe Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)   GIAHS in Sao Tome and Principe  GIAHS in Bali, Indonesia GIAHS in Austria Zoie JonesFAO Regional Office for Africa - Communications[email protected] The web server reported a bad gateway error The president of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, appointed a new prime minister on Sunday, making Américo Ramos the country’s third head of government within a week, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reports Vila Nova selected then-minister of justice, Ilza Amado Vaz, to serve as prime minister after dismissing the government of Patrice Trovoada last Monday stating in a letter that her continued leadership “would not contribute to the success of public policies and the harmonious and peaceful development.”  At stake was a leak on social media made by her own party – the ruling Independent Democratic Action party (known by its Portuguese initials ADI). National news agency STP-Press reported that the ADI published a draft list of Amado Vaz’s cabinet on the day she was due to submit it to the president prompting accusations that the ADI was attempting to interfere with the formation of the new government [See more: São Tomé and Príncipe has run out of money to pay for imports] who served as attorney-general between 2003 and 2006 President Vila Nova reportedly settled on Ramos – a former ADI secretary-general who served as finance minister twice under Trovoada The move could exacerbate political tensions in the island nation since Ramos was not endorsed for the prime ministerial role by the ADI The party has meanwhile expressed “its deepest repudiation of any attempt at improper interference in the formation of the new government,” and says it is appealing to the Constitutional Court to overturn Trovoada’s dismissal The page you were trying to reach does not exist. Please check the URL or click here to return to the home page The Cocoa Agroforestry System of Sao Tome and Principe known for its high-quality Amelonado cocoa combines traditional farming with diverse crops to enhance food security strengthen the livelihoods of farming families this system exemplifies the resilience of its people in their commitment to building sustainable practices and development Global Importance The Cocoa Agroforestry System of Sao Tome and Principe is of global significance due to its production of the unique Amelonado Seleção de São Tomé (SST) cocoa the only amelonado variety recognized by the International Cocoa Organization as fine cocoa This system not only contributes to the global chocolate industry with its high-quality cocoa but also exemplifies sustainable agricultural practices By maintaining genetic diversity and employing sustainable practices such as shade-grown and organic farming the system offers a valuable model for balancing agricultural productivity with environmental conservation.  Food and Livelihood Security The agroforestry system in Sao Tome and Principe is vital for ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods for local communities Cocoa is a major source of income through exports but the system's integration of diverse crops like bananas and taro (locally known as matabala) provides additional food sources and income streams This diversification reduces reliance on a single crop the system supports both the economic stability of farming families and the nutritional needs of the local population The unspoilt and wild nature attracts different types of tourists Agrobiodiversity Agrobiodiversity is a fundamental aspect of the Cocoa Agroforestry System in Sao Tome and Principe which are cultivated in a multi-layered arrangement that mimics natural ecosystems This diversity enhances ecological functions like nutrient cycling reducing the need for chemical inputs and increasing resilience to environmental changes the system preserves unique genetic resources which are crucial for maintaining global biodiversity and adapting to future challenges.  Local and Traditional Knowledge Systems The Cocoa Agroforestry System of Sao Tome and Principe has been shaped by the traditional knowledge of local communities over generations the system evolved to incorporate multiple layers of crops This multi-layered approach not only supports cocoa production but also enhances local food security and biodiversity By combining traditional practices with sustainable land use this agroforestry system preserves cultural heritage and demonstrates the resilience of the Santomean people.  The system is structured in four distinct layers each contributing to its overall sustainability The upper canopy consists of tall trees that provide shade and protect cocoa plants from direct sunlight medium-height trees like fruit trees offer additional shade and diversify the produce The third layer includes cocoa trees themselves while the fourth layer consists of smaller shrubs and nitrogen-fixing plants that enrich the soil the ground layer is made up of low-growing crops and cover plants that prevent soil erosion and enhances resilience against environmental changes.  and Social Organizations The agroforestry system is deeply intertwined with the cultural identity and social fabric of Sao Tome and Principe Initially developed during a period of colonial rule when African people were enslaved to work on cocoa plantations the system has historically contributed to social inequalities there has been a transformation towards cooperativism and fair trade These cooperatives preserve traditional agricultural practices and cultural values associated with cocoa farming fostering a sense of community and continuity that strengthens social cohesion and supports a sustainable Landscapes and Waterscapes Features The landscapes and waterscapes of the Cocoa Agroforestry System in Sao Tome and Principe are characterized by a unique blend of cultivated and natural elements which incorporates various crops at different levels This arrangement supports ecological balance by providing habitats for numerous species and maintaining the integrity of watersheds which are essential for water quality and availability the system’s sustainable land use practices such as erosion control and water retention are well-suited to the region’s steep slopes enhancing both agricultural productivity and environmental conservation.  combines traditional farming with diverse crops.. The Cocoa Agroforestry System occupies most of the agricultural area of the two main islands—the only inhabited ones—of the archipelago that makes up.. Baya Simons selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter “As baleias estão perto”; word goes around from the sailors to the guides The humpbacks swim around Príncipe’s nursery shores from mid-summer until October We don’t see them as we zoom around the island in a dinky black fishing boat They’ve been known to breach just outside the island’s port throwing their massive bodies into the air and crashing back down It’s understood they use this to communicate: excitement Wildlife occupies the supreme position here on Príncipe an island in the nation-state archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea It is situated one degree north of the equator so the year-round heat and frequent thunderstorms have nurtured a rich thick jungle that spreads out of the forest line and onto the beach Coconuts plummet unexpectedly from above and fallen palm trunks split up the beaches the rains beat down intermittently but forcefully was formed 31 million years ago by volcanic eruptions the plants and animals haven’t had to develop venom to protect themselves one of the four properties operated by HBD Príncipe © Julian BroadThe swimming pool at HBD Príncipe’s Sundy Praia tented village © Julian BroadJockey Cap Island seen in the distance from Nova Estrela in the east of Príncipe © Julian BroadMark Shuttleworth Isle of Man-based software mogul behind Canonical touched down here in 2009 when he was looking for a place “to decompress” and was instantly captivated by the island’s natural charms “It’s just this extraordinary atmosphere,” he says “It’s kind of primeval.” It’s also one of the least-visited countries in the world He wondered what would become of it: “I thought I could either bottle that memory and never go back just pretend it was as it was when I first arrived there Or I could try to create a sense of a future that would be interesting that would preserve some of the things that I think people viscerally react to when they get there.”  He began talking to the local government, and learnt about a potential deal with Agripalma, a palm oil company, that would see 1,000 hectares of land cleared on the north of the island. He offered an alternative: a hybrid luxury tourism and organic agriculture business. In 2010 he founded HBD Príncipe (“Here Be Dragons”) Check your internet connection or browser settings Fourteen years (and more than $100mn) later, he now has four hotels, a farm that furnishes produce, cocoa and coffee for them, and a community initiative providing school supplies and funds to help people get to university, subsidised by a €25 per guest per night contribution. Bom Bom a collection of bungalows originally built in the 1980s as an old fishing hotel is nestled in the jungle on a strip of land laced on either side by white sandy beaches Sundy Praia is made up of 15 implausibly luxurious tented villas in the jungle along another strip of beach; Roça Sundy is the white-pillared plantation hotel with a difficult past where the six-hour connecting flight from Lisbon lands This year sees Shuttleworth reopen Bom Bom his first hotel and first love on the island From the clean white comfort of the bungalows – some directly above the sand others higher up the hillside – you can lounge on the two beaches Local guides take you down the coastline by boat or to hike through the jungle to the Oquê Pipi waterfall or Ribeira Izé a ruin of a plantation in the dark centre of the forest “I’m interested in figuring out what impact I can have on the world and I’ve chosen that this should be one of the places where I try to pull off the impossible.” Now the biggest employer on an island that a decade ago suffered from a nearly 80 per cent unemployment rate But the island is only relatively newly free from the Portuguese empire which ruled until 1975 and continued the practice of indenturing workers on cacao and coffee plantations long into the 20th century Its legacy is still felt and visible on the island The ongoing challenge for Shuttleworth will be to show both visitors and locals that an outsider can come in and succeed in leaving a truly positive mark the island and surrounding ocean have done a lot of the work for him As you approach on the 35-minute connecting flight from São Tomé Príncipe appears like a bouquet of greenery with yellow beaches flowering along its shores standing on the wooden decking of a bungalow just above the sand at Bom Bom you can watch the day turn from light to soft pink to sherbet orange to black in about 30 minutes A fisherman takes his boat out at Praia Seabra © Julian BroadInside a Seventh Day Adventist chapel on the road to Roça Sundy © Julian BroadA homestead on the road to Santo António © Julian BroadRiding west from Bom Bom on the boat its mass of jungle occasionally punctuated by a fishing village One is table-flat; another is so tall its top is veiled in mist; still another pushes out of the earth like a long-nailed finger pointing up We anchor next to a tiny beach to swim off the boat; warm air and cool sea I think of the big bodies of the whales swimming around Back on the boat there are slices of pineapple I explore the land with HBD guide David Carmo the police station (“No one is in jail right now,” he reassures me) his favourite of the nine or so restaurants in town Zinha cooks all of the food over a fire built from wood she collects herself; she serves mustard-yellow moqueca soup with red fish and herbs rice and grilled fish with skin charred by the fire comes in a brown glass bottle that has no need for a label (“because there is only one” Fishermen prepare their nets at Praia do Abade © Julian BroadThe entrance to the plantation hotel Roça Sundy © Julian BroadA homestead on the road to Príncipe’s airport © Julian BroadHe stops the car every so often to show me things: a cinnamon tree with leaves that taste exactly like the powdered spice; bushes of black pepper Little macaque monkeys leap and chatter in the trees If you take a deep enough breath in the forest you can tell if there are monkeys around because “you can smell them” Carmo describes animal behaviours as if they are decisions each species has made Fly fish “don’t like to put their eggs in the sea they like to put them in the roots of the mangrove” The “mother whales” usually move closer to the island’s shores to keep their calves safe in mid-July but “if she is pregnant earlier she will come earlier” And he knows where to beat the wildlife at its own game: the fishermen use crushed acacia flowers to dye their nets blue-black so that when they’re in the sea Shuttleworth’s other hotels each offer their own designed by famed French architect Didier Lefort The tented villas are set deeper into the forest and all have four-poster beds and huge carved stone baths looking straight out into the mass of greenery Some have private pools; there’s a larger infinity pool positioned over the beach The restaurant does fine dining: salads studded with citrus and chubby prawns pink-roasted duck with orange sauce and Thai basil and melting chocolate souffle with coconut ice cream São Tomé and Príncipe were reportedly uninhabited islands until the Portuguese colonised them in 1470 They brought tens of thousands of enslaved people from mainland Africa along with Portuguese convicts and 2,000 Sephardic Jewish children and put them into forced labour producing sugar Slavery made the archipelago the world’s biggest producer of sugar at one point and in 1908 it was the largest cocoa producer Though slavery itself was abolished in 1875 triggered by a protest held by São Toméans the Portuguese murdered and tortured hundreds of people The country only won its independence in 1975 Earlier this year the government began drafting plans to ask Portugal for reparations The pool at Bom Bom © Julian BroadHBD Príncipe guide David Carmo sits on a fallen Einstein tree at Roça Sundy © Julian BroadSanta Rita beach at Bom Bom © Julian BroadAt Roça Sundy a crenellated wall runs around the perimeter of the central lawn punctuated by watch towers with slit windows Facing the house are the rows and rows of buildings But there is no acknowledgement of the forced labour that happened here The only history memorialised is a neat plaque marking the point where a telescope helped prove the theory of relativity When I ask Shuttleworth how the history of the island has factored into his thinking about running his tourism operation here he queries this view: “Does it?” he replies There is a dark and unspoken logic to the way history is treated in any plantation hotel, and this kind of tourism has undergone a reckoning in recent years. The philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah, writing in his Ethicist column in The New York Times advised a reader who was wondering whether it was OK to attend a plantation wedding that to do so is to idealise “lifestyles built directly on the unpaid labour of Black people who were treated as property and regularly abused” It seems to me that running a former plantation as a hotel is no different There is no doubt that the arrival of a significant new employer on the island is having a positive economic impact My guides tell me the company gives “a lot of opportunities” and you can feel things moving with an energy the new influx of visitors can’t help but react to the primordial mountains there is work to be done in understanding and repairing the past growing stronger every day; the mothers feed in the rich waters The locals and fishermen follow their movements each year Just a handful of lucky visitors every year will have the privilege Baya Simons travelled as a guest of Rainbow Tours, which offers seven nights in São Tomé and Príncipe, including two nights at Omali Lodge and five nights at Bom Bom, from £2,995pp, based on two sharing, and international and internal flights. hbdprincipe.com, rainbowtours.co.uk Download the Press Release (PDF)  2024 – TotalEnergies has signed an agreement to acquire a 60% interest and operatorship in Block STP02 from the Agência Nacional do Petroléo de S The remaining interest will be held by the existing license holders Sonangol (30%) and ANP-STP (10%) The transaction is subject to final approvals from relevant authorities Block STP02 covers an area of 4,969 km2 Block STP02 is adjacent to the Block STP01 license operated by TotalEnergies (55%) alongside Sonangol (30%) and ANP-STP (15%) “Following the encouraging prospectivity interpreted on the 3D seismic data on adjacent Block STP01 TotalEnergies continues to progress its exploration effort in Sao Tome and Principe thereby maintaining the optionality of the Company's portfolio” Senior Vice-President Exploration of TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy “TotalEnergies company” or “Company” in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE “us” and “our” may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities TotalEnergies SE has no liability for the acts or omissions of these entities This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information that may affect TotalEnergies’ financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) On my first visit to São Tomé and Príncipe this week I will reflect on the options available to foster resilience and unlock potential for the Santomean people Despite the breathtaking natural beauty of these islands São Tomé and Príncipe faces significant structural challenges—many of which are common to small island states The archipelago's limited size and 220,000-strong population constrain large-scale economic development resulting in a fragile and undiversified economy its geographic isolation inflates trade costs and heightens vulnerability to economic shocks while climate change and weather-related events pose additional threats The new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for São Tomé and Príncipe which outlines the World Bank Group’s strategic support over the next five years serves as a backdrop for my visit and our engagement in the country going forward This framework targets critical sectors such as Energy and Education to address significant constraints hindering sustainable and inclusive growth It also focuses on enhancing the country’s resilience to climate change and extreme weather events ensuring that São Tomé and Príncipe can effectively harness and benefit from its abundant natural resources Education stands out as a critical area for investment particularly given that nearly half of São Tomé and Príncipe's population is under the age of 18 The country's impressive secondary school enrollment rate of 89% reflects a sustained commitment to education and human capital development with associated weak learning outcomes—a result of poor learning conditions ineffective teacher management and school leadership The government's focus on girls' education through initiatives like the Girls Empowerment and Quality Education for All Project is crucial for equipping all young Santomeans with essential life skills and improving overall learning outcomes I am also eager to witness the impact of the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA) in some of the 12 coastal communities it supports This program is tackling socio-economic and environmental challenges that make fishers and their families particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation Given the archipelago's susceptibility to coastal degradation I look forward to learning about the proactive measures being implemented to increase communities’ physical and economic security A significant portion of my visit will focus on the energy sector which is vital for economic stability and growth The high cost of electricity in São Tomé and Príncipe impacts macro-economic and fiscal stability while also hampering private sector growth I am particularly interested in learning what can be done to quickly support São Tomé and Príncipe to move towards a greener power generation mix by tackling overdue energy reforms and investing in infrastructure will be crucial to foster a robust private sector I hope to reaffirm the World Bank Group’s commitment to supporting São Tomé and Príncipe in realizing its development potential we can help ensure a resilient and prosperous future for all Santomeans with a strong partnership and a shared vision we can overcome the challenges of insularity and climate change more sustainable future for São Tomé and Príncipe Thank you for choosing to be part of the Nasikiliza community It’s feasible to see most of what this compact country has to offer in 10 days Yet two weeks would be ideal for truly taking it all in for São Tomé and Príncipe deserves to be savored rather than just “seen” and “done.” Forests carpet the country and beaches encircle São Tomé and Príncipe hiking through forests to pristine beaches and climbing to volcanic summits are some of the most popular things to do here LONELY PLANET the 274 metre long crude oil tanker Lokosao had been waiting to load at a transshipment facility in the Kola Bay the 20-years-old vessel finally set out to the Barents Sea with a course for Port Said the Lokosao sailed southwards along the Norwegian coast together with the tanker Lorena Grand Both vessels sail under the flag of São Tomé & Príncipe The Lokosao and the Lorena Grand are among the tankers that are targeted by the European Union in its 16th package of sanctions against Russia The measures that were announced by the EU Council on February 24, 2025 include 74 tankers that are considered part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet The sanctions package was announced on the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine The new sanctions package also targets key sectors of the Russian economy infrastructure, and financial services The total number of 'shadow fleet' tankers included on the EU sanctions list is now 153 The Lokosao and the Lorena Grand are both on the list.  Sanctioned tankers are frequent visitors to the north Russian port of Murmansk As the Lokosao and the Lorena Grand left Murmansk the Aquatica was preparing to make port call The 243 meter long tanker sails under the flag of Barbados It is included on the US sanctions list against Russia In mid-January, the Dignity and Makalu loaded crude oil in the Kola Bay. Both are included in the US sanctions list announced on January 10 The new sanctions will created additional troubles for the Russian oil industry and its partners The EU's 15th package of sanctions from mid-December 2024 has already caused major challenges for Russia's transportation of oil across the Arctic.  Since December 2024, a brand new fleet of LNG carriers has been lying idle in the freezing sea-ice of the Pechora Sea. The EU and US sanctions against shadow fleet carriers have paralysed parts of Russia's oil industry .  In order to circumnavigate these international sanctions the ships primarily operate under new names and are managed by newly established straw companies Many of the ships are old and pose a serious security threat to the marine environment The sanctions are adopted to increase pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression, the European Commission emphasises "As Russia's illegal aggression enters its fourth year this package is designed to further ramp up pressure on the aggressor and is part of the EU's unwavering commitment to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," a statement reads Published by: The Independent Barents Observer AS About us The Barents Observer follows the Code of Ethics of the Norwegian Press and the document Right and Duties of the Editor We report under full editorial independence and have no external interference Donate to our independent journalism Støtt oss via Vipps: 105 792 - Det betyr mye newstips@thebarentsobserver.com atle@thebarentsobserver.com thomas@thebarentsobserver.com☏ +47-905 73 143 denis@thebarentsobserver.com georgii@thebarentsobserver.com liza.vereykina@thebarentsobserver.com olesia@thebarentsobserver.com Privacy policy The first archaeological dig of São Tomé and Príncipe’s largest sugar mill sheds light on the birth of plantation agriculture and slavery as a racial system strategically built near a freshwater source and the sea “Everyone always says that people died there and that it’s haunted,” said Da Encarnação who studies business at the University of São Tomé and Príncipe and so people believe that the colonists brutally killed the slaves and their spirits remained wandering around the place.” Some neighbors avoid the site Others visit to pick mangoes in the middle of the night from surrounding trees; youngsters sometimes prank the foragers drifting through the grounds while dressed in ghostly white or black The former agricultural complex is now the site of the first archaeological excavation to take place in São Tomé and Príncipe almost five centuries after the island’s “discovery” by Europeans The ruins played a pivotal role in the origin of plantation slavery and the rise of race-based slavery That’s exactly what Portuguese historical archaeologist M Dores Cruz is hoping to illuminate by excavating the Praia Melão complex next to Da Encarnação’s home It was once the country’s largest sugar mill and operated as a farm for nearly 400 years M Dores Cruz and her team carry out painstaking excavation work at the site of one of São Tomé’s earliest sugar plantations Photograph: Courtesy M Dores Cruz“What is not recognized is how fundamental what happened in São Tomé and Príncipe in the 16th and 17th century is in shaping the plantation system in Brazil and the Caribbean,” said Cruz who specializes in African archaeology at the University of Cologne in Germany The sugar economy in São Tomé and Príncipe was critical to the construction of a modern world built on Black bondage it’s the “first time that you have slaves who were enslaved Africans It’s the beginning of the concept of slaves being Black,” though slavery itself is an age-old practice The archipelago nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is near the equator, geographically almost the center of the world. For a brief moment in time, the two tiny islands were at the literal center of the emerging transatlantic slave trade But the island’s remote location off Gabon’s coast and low population (just over 230,000 people) have obscured the nation’s significance in creating a new world order When Portuguese mariners arrived in the 1470s they found the twin islands with no humans the Portuguese saw the potential to grow the sugar business they’d stewarded elsewhere The only thing they didn’t have was the people to produce it because [sugar cultivation] is very labor-intensive,” said Cruz Living in this wilderness often amounted to a death sentence due to tropical diseases and a poor food supply and almost no one came to the islands of their own will The Portuguese settled the island with convicts expelled from the Iberian peninsula an uncertain number of Jewish children taken from their families (legend has it that some were eaten by those huge lizards) many trafficked to and from the slave castle Elmina in present-day Ghana “São Tomé became an island of experimentation,” said Maria Nazaré de Ceita a São Toméan university professor who works with Cruz on the Praia Melão excavation As the sugar plantations multiplied across the island more and more captives from west and central Africa were forced to work in them and in mills This inhumane experiment proved so lucrative that São Tomé became the world’s largest sugar supplier in the early 1500s When the Portuguese arrived in the late 1400s they expanded their sugar cultivation using forced labor: convicts from Europe and enslaved captives imported from the west African mainland Photograph: Frederico Santa Martha/AlamySugar cultivation and processing were particularly brutal Sugarcane had to be cut by hand and crushed to release its juices and then the juice boiled – all within 24 hours The burning-hot vats sometimes maimed enslaved workers and habitual overwork condemned them to dismally short life expectancies But little is really known about the lives of the people who lived Most of the research on São Tomé’s plantations has focused on later estates particularly 19th- and 20th-century cocoa and coffee plantations Cruz had wanted to launch a research project in São Tomé and Príncipe for years but the country proved difficult to access until recently When Cruz could finally travel easily to the islands she visited the old cocoa and coffee plantations (roças) that now serve as tourist attractions an image sparked her curiosity: the ruins of a barely visible sugar mill – Praia Melão In partnership with the University of São Tomé and Príncipe and its faculty Their collective goal is not only to bring more attention to São Tomé and Príncipe’s historical role in the proliferation of Black slavery but also to train the first generation of archaeologists on the island The lack of an archaeological program in the country has meant telling the island’s varied stories “has mainly been in the hands of international scholars” The two-story Praia Melão ruins sit on a 23-by-16m plot where juice was squeezed out of the fresh sugarcane The Praia Melão estate owners occupied the cooler more refined upper floor featuring stucco walls which probably served as overlooks to monitor the work below Neither the kitchen nor the slave quarters have yet to be located Cruz and her team have unearthed ceramic roof tiles and sugar molds that once held and hardened sugarcane juice for European export often used as currency in continental Africa archival documents reported 150 enslaved people at Praia Melão producing sugarcane Excavating the Praia Melão plantation means sifting through the centuries but also building an archaeological workforce in the country Photograph: Courtesy M Dores Cruz“We have good insight into the big picture of slavery in São Tomé,” said Christopher DeCorse an anthropology professor at Syracuse University who is leading several archaeological projects on the coast of Ghana But “we don’t know how these plantations functioned But the lifeways of people on a day-to-day basis are not so much This is interesting and key to [Cruz’s] work.” São Tomé and Príncipe’s early 16th-century dominance of Europe’s sugar market didn’t last long with the island’s European minority emigrating to Brazil and greener pastures elsewhere The country’s high humidity resulted in low-quality sugar its soils became depleted and raids by marauding European rivals disrupted trade The collapse was also helped along by enslaved people’s resistance Many escaped to mountain camps called mocambos in São Tomé and Príncipe an enslaved man known only as Amador started a three-week revolt His force of 5,000 enslaved men destroyed so many sugar plantations and mills on the island that the industry never recovered São Tomé and Príncipe honors Rei Amador every 4 January and his imagined face now graces the country’s dobra currency Praia Melão may eventually add to this story It’s already changing residents’ knowledge of their country’s history Cruz invites them to see the team’s work and explains the sugar mill’s origins His mother lived near the ruins all of her life and she only ventured on to the grounds when Cruz started the excavation But now he serves as the caretaker of the site and most of his neighbors know more than just ghost stories fishery stakeholders and experts today endorsed Sao Tome and Principe’s first fisheries management plan a milestone paving the way for more sustainable utilization of the African island nations’ rich fishery resources.  and they are an important source of employment," said Graciano do Espirito Costa Rural Development and Fisheries at a meeting of around 50 policy makers who validated the first-ever fisheries management plan for Sao Tome and Principe.   Fish plays a key role in Sao Tome and Principe’s food security with aquatic foods representing more than half the protein consumption of the population The main fish species captured include flying fish Total captures were estimated at nearly 15 00 tons in 2021 while an estimated 4 300 fishers and 2 300 fish traders were employed in the sector.  He added: "This plan puts us on a road to managing our fisheries sustainably and safeguard this resource for future generations," highlighting the importance that authorities attach to involving local fishing communities in plans to manage the countries’ fisheries resources.  Wide consultations were held with fishing communities to understand the issues that a fisheries management plan should address and the measures to resolve them Issues that emerged include ways to manage conflicts over access to fishing grounds and avoiding harmful practices such as the use of stones for purse seining or the fishing of juveniles with nets with illegal mesh sizes.  The role of fishing communities is also firmly enshrined in the plan endorsed today which proposes to co-manage fishery resources in shared responsibility between the authorities and fishery sector stakeholders the plan outlines a transformation of Sao Tome and Principe’s open-access fishing into a fishery that operates within the boundaries of sustainably managed fish stocks by limiting the fishing effort.    Rural Development and Fisheries of Sao Tome and Principe the fisheries management plan was spearheaded by the global aquatic value chain initiative FISH4ACP with technical support from the EAF-Nansen program a partnership between FAO and Norway implemented in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR).   FISH4ACP is an initiative of the Organisation of African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) aimed at making fisheries and aquaculture value chains in Africa the Caribbean and the Pacific more productive and sustainable FISH4ACP is implemented by FAO with funding from the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).   "This plan is a significant step forward in improving the economic social and environmental benefits of Sao Tome and Principe’s important fisheries resources," said Davide Morucci Program Officer from the Delegation of the European Union in Gabon "It shows the impact of flagship projects such as FISH4ACP on achieving the agenda on sustainable development that Europe supports."  FISH4ACP works to make the coastal pelagics value chain more profitable and sustainable Many of FISH4ACP’s activities align with the goals of the new management plan including its support to professionalize stakeholders in the fisheries sector strengthen catch data collection and analysis improve fish handling and food safety as well as to reinforce monitoring control and surveillance.  "FAO is happy to support a blue transformation of Sao Tome and Principe’s fisheries," said Olavio Anibal FAO's FISH4ACP National Professional Officer adding: "In boosting food and nutrition security improving the livelihoods of local fishing communities and safeguarding fish stocks for future generations FISH4ACP is helping to realize FAO’s strategic priorities of better production US$ 2.2 million six-month (June 2024 – November 2024) net funding requirements Sao Tome and Principe and Togo have signed a reciprocal visa waiver agreement and will allow travel to each other’s countries without applying for a business or tourist visa for a visit of 90 days Although the visa waiver agreement has been signed the implementation date has yet to be announced by both governments The policy change is intended to boost bilateral relations and ease travel between the two countries This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected]. #FragomenFC co-hosts are joined by Senior Associate Tuğba Özyakup and her cousin a professional footballer who has competed at the highest levels of the sport Social Security Manager Gufran Al Bash provides a comprehensive guide to the GCC pension framework employer responsibilities and compliance requirements Partner David Crawford discusses how Canada’s new Liberal government could bring more predictable immigration policies focused on labour needs Fragomen and Partner Rahul Soni were honored at the Invest In the USA (IIUSA) I-829 & I-526 Awards Ceremony in Houston during the 2025 IIUSA EB-5 Industry Forum held from April 28-30 Partner Christian Dallman discusses how the automotive industry is navigating significant challenges related to tariffs Partner Cosmina Morariu of Fragomen in Canada received the Ecosystem Builder Award as part of the inaugural Semiconductor Achievement Awards Partner Rick Lamanna emphasises the need for long-term planning and consistent leadership to restore confidence in Canada’s immigration system Partner Azeem Mohiuddin discusses how Qatar is implementing a strategic vision to develop a workforce that is prepared for future challenges and opportunities highlighting the role of skilled migration in addressing gaps in the local workforce Partners Aaron Blumberg and Daniel Pierce discuss the SEVIS reversal and the continued challenges US international students may face Practice Leader Kate Praphakornphiphat discusses Thailand’s Digital Nomad Visa—officially known as the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)—and how you can apply for it Partner Aaron Blumberg explains that children of H-1B visa holders must secure a new legal status or leave the US when their H-4 dependent visas expire at age 21 Partner Kevin Miner discusses unusual biometrics requests in H-1B and I-140 cases Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here São Tomé and Príncipe has a new head of government, replacing Patrice Trovoada, who was dismissed from his position as prime minister by the country’s president last week, reports the Portuguese news agency Lusa who was serving as São Tomé’s justice and administration minister at the time of her appointment She is the third woman to serve in the role and one of three candidates proposed for the position by the governing Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party legislative speaker Celmira Sacremento and health and women’s rights minister Ângela Costa ADI Secretary-General Elísio Teixeira characterised the picks as experienced officials “who know and can continue the process of governance” while maintaining “the stability of relations between the party and the government and with São Toméan society.” President Carlos Vila Nova dismissed the government last Monday his presidential decree citing its “marked inability” to solve the country’s “numerous challenges” and “manifest institutional disloyalty” in relations with him.  He also pointed to the signing of international agreements, including those with Turkey and Venezuela as well as extended absences by Trovoada which amounted to nearly seven months Trovoada was the second prime minister to serve under Vila Nova since the president took office in October 2021 and this month marks the end of his fourth tenure as São Tomé’s prime minister – a position he has held on and off since 2008 Amado Vaz becomes the first woman to hold the post since Maria do Carmo Silveira ended her tenure in April 2006 The requested URL was not found on this server Malawi reignited their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Sao Tome e Principe in Lilongwe on Thursday who had endured a slow start to their Group H campaign burst into life courtesy of goals from Kaonga Chawanangwa and Mphasi Chifundo to claim a crucial three points Chawanangwa set the hosts on their way with the opener after just six minutes calmly slotting home after being played through on goal Lanjesi doubled Malawi's advantage eight minutes later rifling a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box Sao Tome e Principe showed signs of life in the second half with Silva Denilson reducing the deficit in the 67th minute with a well-taken strike any hopes of an unlikely comeback were extinguished 11 minutes later when Chifundo restored Malawi's two-goal cushion with a neat finish The result moves the Flames into third place in Group H on six points one behind second-placed Namibia who maintained their perfect start with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday the defeat leaves them rooted to the bottom of the group without a point from their opening three matches With the crucial clash against Equatorial Guinea on the horizon on Monday the Flames have reignited their hopes of securing a place at the 2026 showpiece in North America.