São Tomé and Príncipe inaugurates new judges to bolster judiciary

Five of the eight judges who won a competition in 2023 have officially taken office following the approval of results by the Superior Council of the Judicial Magistracy in São Tomé and Príncipe.

While the arrival of new judges aims to address the shortage of magistrates—a major obstacle to the functioning of courts and a cause of significant case backlogs—officials warn that the influx is not a complete solution. Eurídice Dias, President of the Supreme Court of Justice, noted that while human resources are being bolstered, a lack of material resources for both judges and staff remains a critical issue.

Judge Leonardo Gomes emphasized the need to maintain judicial ethics and efficiency to restore public credibility in the justice system, stating that judges must work to dispel doubts regarding their integrity.