Va'aletoa Sualauvi II

Va'aleto'a Sualauvi
O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 July 2017
Prime Minister	Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Preceded by	Tufuga Efi
In office 11 May 2007 – 20 June 2007 Acting Served alongside Tufuga Efi
Prime Minister	Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Preceded by	Tanumafili II
Succeeded by	Tufuga Efi
Personal details
Born	Va'aleto'a Eti Sualauvi II (1947-04-29) 29 April 1947
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Masiofo Fa'amausili Leinafo
Alma mater	Australian National University Malua Theological College

Va'aleto'a Eti Sualauvi II (born 29 April 1947)^[1] is a Samoan politician who is the current O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa, in office since 2017. He was appointed to the Tama'aiga title of Tuimaleali'ifano in July 1977, one of four paramount titles in Samoa.^[2][3] His other title is Tui A'ana.

Biography

Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Eti Sualauvi II is a member of the Tuimaleali'ifano dynasty.

He is the great-grandson of one of the Mau movement leaders, Tuimaleali'ifano Fa'aoloi'i Si'ua'ana, and grand-nephew of the sole Member of the Council of Deputies (1962-1974), Tuimaleali'ifano Suatipatipa II.^[4] He worked as a policeman, lawyer and previously was a Samoan Police Chief Inspector and a secondary school teacher. He was a police officer in New Zealand for three years. He also served as a public-defender, public trustee, and barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Samoa. He is an elder deacon and lay preacher for the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in the village of Matautu Falelatai. He has preached sermons in Australia and New Zealand for the Christian Congregational Church of Samoa. He was a member of the Council of Deputies to the Head of State from 1993 to 2001 and since 2004.^[5] He was sworn in as O le Ao o le Malo on 21 July 2017.^[6]

Education

Tuimaleali'ifano has a Bachelors Degree in Law from the Australian National University and a Diploma in Theological Studies from Malua Theological College.

References