Rogério Lobato

Rogério Tiago de Fátima Lobato (born 25 July 1949) is a Timorese politician who was the former minister of defence and minister of interior belonging to Fretilin who is now the current president of the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse. He was a founding member of the first independent government of East Timor, in 1975, led by Fretilin. He is also the brother of the late Nicolau Lobato, the second president of the country who was killed in action by the Indonesian Army in late 1978.

Rogério Lobato
Rogério Lobato in 2022
President of the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse-Ambeno
Incumbent
Assumed office 31 January 2024
Preceded by	Arsénio Bano
Minister of the Interior
In office 20 May 2002 – 1 June 2006
President	Xanana Gusmão
Prime Minister	Mari Alkatiri
Preceded by	Antoninho Bianco
Succeeded by	Alcino Baris
Minister of Defense
In office 1 December 1975 – 17 December 1975
Prime Minister	Nicolau Lobato
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Roque Rodrigues (2005)
Personal details
Born	25 July 1949 (1949-07-25) (age 76) Soibada, Portuguese Timor
Nationality	Timorese
Spouse	Virginia De Araujo Soares
Children	5
Parents	Narciso Lobato (father) Felismina Alves (mother)
Relatives	Nicolau Lobato (brother)
Occupation	Politician

In 2006 Lobato resigned as Minister over a dispute with the military over alleged discrimination.^[1] Lobato was jailed on five charges of arming civilians during the 2006 East Timorese crisis in March 2007 and sentenced seven and a half years in jail.^[2] The arming of civilians occurred after the country's police force had disintegrated, during a coup attempt.^[3]

In 2007, Rogério Lobato tried to leave the country to go to Malaysia for heart surgery resulting in a standoff at Dili Airport.^[4]

In 2008, President José Ramos-Horta reduced Lobato's jail sentence by half.^[5]

Lobato began his political career as part of Fretilin when it declared independence in November 1975. 3 December that year he departed East Timor with fellow Fretilin member Mari Alkatiri to promote the interests of the new country. Following the Indonesian invasion of East Timor on 7 December, Lobato and Alkatiri stayed in Africa to campaign for the rights of their home country.^[6]

On 31 January 2024, Rogério was sworn in as the new president of Special Administrative Region of Oecusse by President Ramos-Horta.^{[citation needed]}