SOLOMON AILANS
Officially: Solomon Islands.
Seat of government: Honiara.
Status: Democratic.
Structure: Parliament is elected in geographical constituencies, and chooses the prime minister.
Head of government: Manasseh Sogavare, prime minister (since 2014).
Assessment: Unstable state with immature democracy; elections are dominated by independent candidates and no strong parties have developed. After a long period of division, starting in 1998, between an Isatabu faction and a Malaita faction, control was consolidated under Malaita-faction leadership. The government then held elections in 2001 for the whole of the state, in which new politicians dominated. Australia agreed in 2003 to an invitation to provide security for Solomon Ailans, in conjunction with other Oceanic states. The Malaita Eagle Force withdrew from Honiara and its leaders returned to Malaita. The remnants of the Isatabu faction, led by Harold Keke, were neutralized, and Keke arrested. Intervention troops withdrew but police remained. After a second major turnover in parliamentary elections in 2006, Snyder Rini was chosen to replace Allan Kemakeza (officially 2001-6, but not the effective head of government for much of that). Rinis appointment provoked rioting, and he was sworn in in secrecy; he soon resigned, replaced by Sogavare (2006-7). Sogavare lost a vote of confidence and was replaced by Derek Sikua (2007-10). A 2010 election saw a large plurality for the Democratic Party, but it was unable to form a governing coalition; governments were led by Danny Philip (2010-1) and Gordon Darcy Lilo (2011-4). A new election in 2014 returned Sogavare to office.
FH: 4-3, partly free (not democratic).
Updated: 2015 April 22.
O.T. FORD