Manasseh Sogavare, the pro-China Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, is in a tight race with opposition parties to form a coalition government following an inconclusive election. The election, which took place a week ago, saw Sogavare’s OUR party win 15 out of 50 seats in parliament, with major opposition parties securing 20 seats and independent and micro-parties securing 15.
United party leader Peter Kenilorea Jr and Democratic Alliance Party leader Rick Hou are among the rival politicians vying to secure the 26 seats needed to form a government. Sogavare, who remains in control of the country and its security, expressed concerns about possible riots in the aftermath of the election.
The CARE coalition, led by Matthew Wale’s Solomon Islands Democratic Party, U4C, and former prime minister Rick Hou’s Democratic Alliance Party, currently holds 13 seats. Kenilorea Jr’s party, with seven seats, is looking to align with like-minded groups to secure a majority.
The Solomon Islands, made up of hundreds of islands with a population of 760,000, often experiences tension after elections as politicians work to form a government. Security forces from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji are assisting with election security at the invitation of Sogavare’s government. Recent minor outbreaks of violence on one of the islands were quickly resolved by the police.