Manasseh Sogavare

Manasseh Damukana Sogavare (born 17 January 1955) is the prime minister of Solomon Islands, serving since 24 April 2019.

Sogavare, who is a Seventh-day Adventist, was born in Popondetta, Northern Province, Papua New Guinea on 17 January 1955 to missionary parents from Choiseul Island, Solomon Islands.

He has four older brothers: Moses, Samson, John and Jacob.

Later in life, Manasseh and his older brother Jacob moved to the Solomon Islands.

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.

Before becoming prime minister, Sogavare served in the National Parliament representing East Choiseul since 1997.

Sogavare has been widely accused of promoting democratic backsliding in the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands under Sogavare has been criticised by many as being increasingly autocratic or even authoritarian.

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 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.

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.

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.

Sogavare was chosen as deputy leader of the opposition in late September 1998, with Solomon Mamaloni as leader.

He previously held the office in 2000–2001, 2006–2007 and 2014–2017; in all he has served over nine years as prime minister.

Following Mamaloni's death in January 2000, Sogavare was elected as leader of the opposition later that month.

He received the votes of all ten members of the opposition who were present.

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.

He served as Prime Minister until 17 December 2001.

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

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

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.

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 parliamentary vote on 4 May 2006, he received 28 votes, defeating the government candidate Fred Fono, who received 22 votes.

Sogavare was immediately sworn in.

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.

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, who Australia wanted extradited to face child sex charges there.

Moti presently faces charges in the Solomons for illegally entering the country.

On 13 October, Sogavare threatened to expel Australia from an assistance mission in the Solomons, 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.

On 13 December 2007, Sogavare was defeated in a parliamentary vote of no confidence; the motion against him received 25 votes, with 22 in opposition.

He remained in office in a caretaker capacity until the election of a new Prime Minister on 20 December, when opposition candidate Derek Sikua was elected, defeating Patteson Oti who had been Foreign Minister under Sogavare.

On the same date, Sogavare became Leader of the Opposition.

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

Following the 19 November, 2014 general election, Sogavere became Prime Minister for the third time.

On 22 September 2017 Sogavare spoke at the United Nations General Assembly.