Solomon Islands PM Sogavare survives no-confidence vote after riots

Sogavare, who won the motion by a vote of 32-15, said he would not submit to ‘calls to resign by Taiwan’s agents’

Last month, anti-government protesters angered over the country’s increasing links with China set fire to buildings and looted stores in Honiara

Reading Time:2 minutes

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:07pm, 6 Dec 2021Updated: 3:50pm, 6 Dec 2021

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday survived a no-confidence motion in parliament, after accusing the Pacific island nation’s most populous province of being “Taiwan’s agent”, and anti-government protesters of attempting a coup.

Dozens of buildings were burnt and shops looted in the capital of the Pacific island nation just over a week ago, in violence that killed four after Sogavare refused to speak with protesters who had travelled from Malaita province.

Domestic issues and disagreement over a 2019 switch of diplomatic ties to Beijing from Taiwan have fuelled a dispute between the national government and Malaita, and church leaders have urged talks.

Amid fears that the result of Monday’s no-confidence vote could trigger more violence, boats have been banned from Honiara harbour, and more than 200 police and soldiers from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are on alert.

The no-confidence motion by the opposition failed, with 15 MPs voting in support, 32 against, and two abstaining.

Sogavare, now in his fourth stint in office, rejected corruption accusations, saying he would not submit to “calls to resign by Taiwan’s agents”.