Timor Leste at 20: Progress, Challenges and Prospects SYNOPSIS

Upon independence Timor Leste was among the 10 poorest countries in the world and was the poorest in Asia. [...] The country has one of the freest media in the world with Freedom House ranking Timor Leste the freest country in Southeast Asia. [...] As such the country runs the risk of facing further political fragmentation once the founding generation vacates the stage. [...] Whether Timor Leste will continue to prosper will be determined by the ability of the founding generation of leaders to reconcile their differences and use the next 10 years to prepare a new generation of successors. [...] Loro Horta is a lecturer at Timor Leste National University (UNTL) and has worked in various capacities for the Timor Leste government and the United Nations.