Manasseh Sogavare

Manasseh Sogavare
6th Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
In office 9 December 2014 – 15 November 2017
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Frank Kabui
Preceded by	Gordon Darcy Lilo
Succeeded by	Rick Houenipwela
In office 4 May 2006 – 20 December 2007
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Nathaniel Waena
Preceded by	Snyder Rini
Succeeded by	Derek Sikua
In office 30 June 2000 – 17 December 2001
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	John Lapli
Preceded by	Bartholomew Ulufa'alu
Succeeded by	Allan Kemakeza
Member of Parliament for East Choiseul
Incumbent
Assumed office 1997
Personal details
Born	(1955-01-17) 17 January 1955 Tagibangara, Solomon Islands
Political party	Social Credit Party
Spouse(s)	Emmy Sogavare

Manasseh Damukana Sogavare (born 17 January 1955) was the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands from 9 December 2014 to 15 November 2017, and he had served two terms between 2000 and 2001 and between 2006 and 2007. Before becoming Prime Minister, Sogavare served in the National Parliament as Member for East Choiseul beginning in 1997.^[1]

Early career

Sogavare was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance from February 1994 to October 1996. Prior to his election to Parliament, he served as the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Director of the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands, and Chairman of the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund. He was first elected to the National Parliament from the East Choiseul constituency in the 6 August 1997 election.

Under Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, Sogavare became Minister for Finance and Treasury in 1997^[1] but was dismissed from that post by Ulufa'alu in mid-July 1998. Sogavare said that he was shocked at the dismissal, as he could see no reason for it and no reason was given, and he demanded an explanation.^[2] A few days later, Ulufa'alu said that the decision was motivated by the need for the government to keep the numbers to stay in power.^[3] In early August 1998, Sogavare withdrew his support for Ulufa'alu and his government, accusing Ulufa'alu of authoritarian and hypocritical leadership and of emphasizing stability only to protect himself.^[4]

Sogavare was chosen as deputy leader of the opposition in late September 1998, with Solomon Mamaloni as leader.^[5] Following Mamaloni's death in January 2000, Sogavare was elected as leader of the opposition late in the month. He received the votes of all ten members of the opposition who were present.^[6]

Prime Minister (2000-2001)

Sogavare was elected as Prime Minister by parliament on 30 June 2000, with 23 votes in favor and 21 against, after Ulufa'alu was captured by rebels and forced to resign.^[7][8] He served as Prime Minister until 17 December 2001.

Out of office (2001-2006)

His party won only three seats in the 2001 general election, but Sogavare was re-elected to his seat in Parliament.^[1]

In Parliament, Sogavare was a member of the Bills and Legislation Committee in 2002 and again from 2005 to April 2006.^[1]

Following the 2006 general election, Sogavare led the Solomon Islands Social Credit Party into a coalition to oust Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza's chosen successor Snyder Rini, but there was much disagreement about who should be its candidate for prime minister. On 18 April 2006, he received 11 of 50 votes to become prime minister, placing him third. He then switched his support to Rini, allowing Rini to become Prime Minister while Sogavare became part of the coalition and was named Minister for Commerce, Industries and Employment.^[1]

Prime Minister (2006-2007)

Following Rini's resignation on 26 April 2006, Sogavare decided to attempt again to become prime minister. This time the opponents of Kemakeza and Rini united behind him, and in 4 May parliamentary vote, he received 28 votes, defeating the government candidate Fred Fono, who received 22 votes. Sogavare was immediately sworn in.^[9] His main tasks included organizing the recovery from rioting that took place during Rini's time as Prime Minister.

On 11 October 2006, Sogavare survived a no-confidence vote in parliament; the motion, introduced by Fono, was supported by 17 members of parliament, while 28 voted against it.^[10] The no-confidence vote was prompted by deteriorating relations with Australia. Sogavare had expelled the Australian High Commissioner Patrick Cole in September and defended the Solomons' suspended attorney general, Julian Moti, whom Australia wants extradited to face child sex charges there. Moti presently faces charges in the Solomons for illegally entering the country.^[11] On 13 October, Sogavare threatened to expel Australia from an assistance mission in the Solomons,^[12] and a week later Australian peacekeepers from the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands raided Sogavare's office (when he was not present) looking for evidence related to the Moti case.^[13]

On 13 December 2007, Sogavare was defeated in a parliamentary vote of no confidence; the motion against him received 25 votes, with 22 opposed to it. He remained in office in a caretaker capacity until the election of a new prime minister,^[14] on 20 December, when opposition candidate Derek Sikua was elected, defeating Patteson Oti who had been Foreign Minister under Sogavare.^[15] On the same date, Sogavare became Leader of the Opposition.^[1]

Leader of the Opposition (2007-2014)

In 2010, Sogavare and eight other MPs established the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party,^[16] which won three seats in the 2010 general election.

Prime Minister (2014-2017)

Following the 2014 general election, Sogavere became Prime Minister for the third time. He held the position until he was defeated in another motion of no confidence on 7 November 2017. Seventeen members of his Democratic Coalition for Change voted against him. The lawmaker who submitted the motion of no confidence, Derek Sikua, claimed that Sogavere had lost touch with reality and become fixated on conspiracy theories, while Sogavere attributed the defections to a proposed anti-graft bill, saying that some MPs were afraid it would lead to them being imprisoned.^[17][18] Sogavere remained as acting prime minister until a new prime minister was voted in.

References

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