Solomon Islands elect new Prime Minister. China and the US begin a new round of competition for the South Pacific

On May 2, 2024, the newly elected parliament of Solomon Islands appointed Jeremiah Manele, until recently the Foreign Minister in the government of Manasseh Sogavare, as Prime Minister.

This decision resulted from the victory of pro-democratic forces over pro-Chinese groups in the Solomon Islands, which forced Sogavare to abandon his attempts to lead the government for the fifth time in late April.

The election of a political figure close to Sogavare as Prime Minister created uncertainty about Honiara’s future course: on the one hand, Prime Minister Manele supported the Solomon Islands’ rapprochement with China; on the other hand, during his ministerial term, he tried to maintain broad partnerships with both Australia and Japan.