Steps forward in New Caledonia political talks
For the first time since 2019, there have been tripartite talks on the political status of New Caledonia, during an eight-day visit by France’s Overseas Minister Manuel Valls. After six months of conflict that began
French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls to visit Nouméa for key political talks
French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has announced he will travel to New Caledonia on 22 February to pursue talks on the French territory’s political future. This comes following preliminary talks held last
An uneasy crown: King Tupou VI seeks greater role
For 15 years, the Kingdom of Tonga has gone through a political experiment that was supposed to make the governance system “more democratic”. This was the declared will of the former Monarch, King George Tupou V,
Vanuatu: public frustrated over political situation as after-shocks continue
Frustration is growing in Vanuatu over the snap election, with claims the government has put politics before people. Radio New Zealand reports that ballot boxes are still arriving in Port Vila and official counting is
Samoa political saga: Challenge to party removal reported
Samoa’s prime minister and the five other ousted members of the ruling FAST Party are reportedly challenging their removal. FAST chairman La’auli Leuatea Schmidt on Wednesday announced the removal of the
Indo-Pacific Trumps Blue Pacific
On 20 January, US President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office. The US Republican leader has pledged engagement with island states, particularly in the northern Pacific. But at a time of heightened US-China
Solomon Islands PM Manele to face no confidence vote next Monday
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is set to face a vote of no confidence in Parliament next Monday, December 16th, Clerk to the National Parliament, Jefferson Hallu has confirmed to SIBC news. Hallu said
Lilo moves to dethrone Solomon Islands PM Manele with no-confidence vote
After weeks of speculation, it’s now confirmed that Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele will face a no-confidence vote in the current sitting of parliament. Notice of the motion, which will be moved by
Tuilaepa will contest in 2026 election
In a resolute display of political longevity, veteran parliamentarian and Leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi made it clear that retirement is not on the horizon. At
Music and politics: A Pacific story of power and passion
Since the dawn of time, music and politics have long held many things in common. Both rely on harmony and disharmony to create tension. In music, tension creates an atmosphere that yearns for resolution. And when the
Snap election looms in Vanuatu
The president of Vanuatu has dissolved parliament, triggering a snap-election, for the second time in two years. RNZ reports that Nikenike Vurobaravu’s decision comes on the eve of a motion of no-confidence from
New Caledonia’s constitutional reform will not go ahead: French PM
New Caledonia's controversial constitutional reform will not go ahead, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier
‘To the backbenchers’: Party tells Minister Prasad
Fiji Labour Party is now calling on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad to move to the
Opinion: Mixing oil and water
As protests erupt across New Caledonia, a leading Loyalist politician claims indigenous Kanak and the West are like ‘oil and water’ Sonia Backès, the leading conservative anti-independence politician of her
Eyes wide shut
Eighteen months after the end of 16 years of Fiji’s notorious two-man rule, the country’s political landscape is in the middle of another seismic shift. The former ruling FijiFirst Party (FFP), relegated to the
Opinion: The political risk of a failed census in Papua New Guinea
The last reliable national census for Papua New Guinea (PNG) was conducted 24 years ago, therefore the 2024 census is critical. But early signs suggest the latest attempt to count the country’s population will not be
Opinion: Tapestry of Pacific ambiguities: Political tensions against the backdrop of FestPac celebrations
The focus of the Festival of Pacific Arts, or FestPac, is always culture, and the 13th iteration held in June 2024 in Hawai’i was no different. More than two dozen island nations sent delegations of dancers,
UN provides expertise for Truth and Reconciliation Commission setup
Fiji’s Attorney-General Graham Leung met with United Nations Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener to discuss their commitment to support Fiji with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process in Suva.
‘Stop the violence and killing against Kanaky people’: Vanuatu MPs from Tafea Province
Eight Members of Vanuatu Parliament from Tafea Province have made a bold and powerful call to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to stop the violence and killing being committed against the Kanaky
FLNKS congress postponed, as independence movement debates the way forward
In a fast moving and complex situation, both supporters and opponents of independence in New Caledonia are preparing for the outcome of French elections later this month. Islands Business correspondent Nic Maclellan
Vanuatu voters support constitutional change to end political instability
Vanuatu has voted to change its constitution in a bid to end years of political instability, results of the Pacific nation’s first national referendum showed on Wednesday. A grassroots push to alter the
Nine dead since start of New Caledonia unrest
A man in his thirties who was shot amongst the New Caledonia rioting has died of his wounds. He was allegedly shot by a gendarme who responded after being targeted, according to initial investigations, the public
New Caledonia reels as President Macron dissolves French parliament
Despite weeks of rioting and clashes between police and protestors in New Caledonia, French authorities in Noumea decided to proceed with elections for the European Parliament on Sunday, a poll open to all French
