Aileu (Portuguese: Município Aileu, Tetum: Munisípiu Aileu) is a municipality, and was formerly a district, of East Timor. It has a population of 48,554 (Census 2015) and an area of 737 km².^[2] The municipality's capital is also named Aileu. Its administrative posts are Aileu, Laulara, Lequidoe and Remexio.

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Quick Facts Country, Capital ...

Aileu
Municipality of East Timor
Município Aileu (Portuguese) Munisípiu Aileu (Tetum)
River in Aileu
Official map
Aileu in     East Timor
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 8°43′S 125°34′E
Country	East Timor
Capital	Aileu
Administrative posts	Aileu Laulara Lequidoe Remexio
Area
• Total	735.9 km2 (284.1 sq mi)
• Rank	9th
Population  (2015 census)
• Total	48,837
• Rank	12th
• Density	66/km2 (170/sq mi)
• Rank	8th
Households (2015 census)
• Total	7,598
• Rank	13th
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (TLT)
ISO 3166 code	TL-AL
HDI (2017)	0.613[1] medium · 6th
Website	Aileu Municipality

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The word Aileu means "bent tree" in the local Mambai language.^[3] According to legend, the root of a banyan fig tree (Ficus benghalensis) grew to maturity without a branch or leaf. The tree developed into a twisted shape that looked like a chair; its unique appearance made it famous, and eventually gave the community its name. Nowadays, the wooden chair is also the symbol of the municipality.^[4]

Aileu is in the northwestern part of East Timor and is one of only two landlocked municipalities, the other being Ermera. It borders Dili to the north, Manatuto to the east, Manufahi to the southeast, Ainaro to the south, Ermera to the west, and Liquiçá to the northwest. It was formerly part of what is now the municipality of Dili but was split in the final years of Portuguese administration.

As part of the Timor-Leste Government decentralization program the former District of Aileu is now organised as the Municipality of Aileu, headed by a Municipal Administrator. The four former subdistricts are now organised as Administrative Posts.

The municipality's administrative posts (formerly sub-districts) are:^[5]

• Aileu Vila (place of capital)
• Laulara
• Lequido
• Remexio

Aileu is the focus of several development programmes from NGOs, including WaterAid,^[6] World Vision^[7] and Plan International.^[8] In May 2000 the Hume City Council and Moreland City Council and the communities in Melbourne Australia, established a friendship relationship with the Aileu Municipality, called "Friends of Aileu". The friendship relationship has been renewed periodically, with the signing of updated Friendship Agreements in 2005, 2010 and 2016.^[9] and ^[10]