Manatuto Municipality


Manatuto is one of the municipalities of East Timor, located in the central part of the country. It has a population of 45,541 and an area of 1,78 km². The capital of the municipality is also named Manatuto.

Etymology

The word Manatuto is a Portuguese approximation of the local Tetum and Galoli language word Manatutu, which means "pecking birds".

Geography

The borders of the municipality of Manatuto are identical to those of the council of Portuguese Timor with the same name.
The municipality borders the municipalities of Baucau and Viqueque to the east and Manufahi, Aileu, and Dili to the west. It reaches both the south and north coasts of the island, and is only one of two municipalities to do so, and has the most geographical diversity. To the north is the Strait of Wetar, to the south is the Timor Sea.

Administrative posts

The municipality's administrative posts are:
The administrative posts are divided into 29 sucos in total.

Demographics

In addition to the official languages of East Timor, a large part of the population of the municipality speaks the Malayo-Polynesian language Galoli, which is designated as a "national language" by the constitution.

Notable people

The municipality is known as the birthplace of Xanana Gusmão, later to become the nation's first president. He was born in the village of Laleia.