This information is derived from the State Department's Office of Investment Affairs' 2015 Investment Climate Statement. Any questions on the ICS can be directed to EB-ICS-DL@state.gov
Last Published: 6/15/2016

The government maintains strong protections over all types of ownership of private property.  The law permits expropriation of property only if deemed to be in the national public interest and only with adequate compensation.  There is no evidence to suggest that the government would undertake expropriation in a discriminatory manner or in violation of established principles of international law.
 
Aside from a massive land expropriation from colonial farmers in 1976 – later recognized by the government as detrimental to STP's economy – there have not been any documented cases of expropriation of foreign-owned properties.  The government has reportedly considered expropriating land to expand the runway at Sao Tome international airport, but thus far has been reluctant to do so out of concern that any expropriation will be a deterrent to new investment.

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Sao Tome and Principe Economic Development and Investment Law