The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were uninhabited at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese sometime between 1469 and 1471. After the islands were discovered by the explorers João de Santarém and Pêro Escobar, Portuguese navigators explored the islands and decided they would be a good location for bases to trade with the mainland.
The politics of São Tomé and Príncipe takes place in a framework of a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of São Tomé and Príncipe is head of state and the Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe is head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. São Tomé has functioned under a multiparty system since 1990. Following the promulgation of a new constitution in 1990, São Tomé and Príncipe held multiparty elections for the first time since independence. Shortly after the constitution took effect, the National Assembly formally legalized opposition parties. Independent candidates also were permitted to participate in the January 1991 legislative elections.
Príncipe is the smaller, northern major island of the country of São Tomé and Príncipe lying off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. It has an area of 136 square kilometres (53 sq mi) and a population of 7,324 (2012). The island is a heavily eroded volcano speculated to be over three million years old, surrounded by smaller islands including Ilheu Bom Bom, Ilhéu Caroço, Tinhosa Grande and Tinhosa Pequena. Part of the Cameroon Line archipelago, Príncipe rises in the south to 947 metres at Pico do Príncipe. The island is the main constituent of the Autonomous Region of Príncipe, established in 1995, and of the coterminous district of Pagué.
Caué is a district of São Tomé and Príncipe, on São Tomé Island. Covering 267 km2 (103 sq mi), it is the largest of the nation's seven districts in terms of area. In population it is the smallest, with 6,031 residents (2012). The district seat is São João dos Angolares. It is divided into the two statistical subdistricts São João dos Angolares and Malanza.
Lembá is a district of São Tomé and Príncipe, on São Tomé Island. Its area is 229.5 km2 (89 sq mi), and its population is 14,652 (2012). The district seat is Neves. It is divided into the two statistical subdistricts Neves and Santa Catarina.
Mé-Zóchi is a district of São Tomé and Príncipe, on São Tomé Island. Its area is 122 km2 (47 sq mi). With 44,752 residents (2012), it is the second most populous district of the country. The district seat is Trindade. It is divided into the five statistical subdistricts Trindade, Madalena, Caixão Grande, Bombom and Almas.
Evaristo do Espírito Santo Carvalho is a São Toméan politician who has been President of São Tomé and Príncipe since 3 September 2016. He was previously the Prime Minister of the country on two occasions.
Leonel Mário d'Alva is a São Toméan politician. He served as Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 21 December 1974 until 12 July 1975, when the country gained independence from Portugal.
João Paulo Cassandra is a São Toméan politician. He was President of the Regional Government of Príncipe from 20 June 2006 to 5 October 2006. Cassandra is a member of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD)
Patrice Émery Trovoada is a São Toméan politician who was Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from November 2014 to December 2018. He previously served as Prime Minister from February 2008 to June 2008 and again from August 2010 to December 2012.
José Cardoso Cassandra is a São Toméan politician. He has been President of the Regional Government of Príncipe since 5 October 2006.
Jose da Graça Diogo is a São Toméan politician. Previously serving as Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, he is now president of the National Assembly.
Aurélio Pires Quaresma Martins is a São Toméan journalist, businessman and politician, who until May 2018 was leader of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD).
The Obô Natural Park of São Tomé is a natural park of São Tomé and Príncipe, covering 195 km2 (75 sq mi) of the island of São Tomé. It was established in 2006. It has not yet been assigned to a IUCN protected area category. It covers parts of the districts of Caué, Lemba, Lobata and Mé-Zóchi.
Lagoa Azul is a small bay in the northern part of the island of São Tomé in São Tomé and Príncipe. It is part of the Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé. It is 4 km northwest of the town Guadalupe. It is a popular spot for diving. There is a lighthouse near the bay, built in 1997.
The following lists events that happened during 2002 in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.
The following lists events that happened during 2010 in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.
The Obô Natural Park of Príncipe is a natural park of São Tomé and Príncipe, covering 85 km² of the island of Príncipe. It was established in 2006.
