São Tomé marks 51 years since roças were nationalised
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Telanon
São Tomé and Príncipe marks the 51st anniversary of the nationalisation of the roças, former plantations that long shaped the archipelago’s economy. On 30 September 1975, two months after independence, their nationalisation marked a major step in national history, while their cultural heritage was recognised in 2026 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
São Tomé and Príncipe marks the 51st anniversary of the nationalisation of the roças, former agricultural plantations that shaped the archipelago’s economy. On 30 September 1975, two months after national independence, the authorities nationalised all the roças and brought more than 200 farms together into 15 large state-owned agricultural companies.
The roças helped ensure part of the country’s food security and produced cocoa, its main export. The best cocoa export result after nationalisation was recorded in 1979. In 2026, UNESCO recognised the historical and cultural heritage of the roças by inscribing them on the World Heritage List.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
