Asia and Oceania

Solomon Islands
Last reviewed: 09 October 2009

Country information

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History

Recent history

Ethnic tension, mostly over land rights and jobs, between the indigenous people of Guadalcanal and settlers from Malaita province, has been simmering for over 40 years, but escalated in 2000. Malaitans migrated to Guadalcanal in large numbers after World War II looking for work when the capital was moved from the New Florida Islands to Honiara on Guadalcanal to take advantage of a large airstrip started by the Japanese and completed by US forces. Malaitans proved more adept at adapting to western influence and education and did much to develop the capital and gained key positions in the public sector and government. This provoked resentment among the indigenous people of Guadalcanal, who responded between 1999 and 2003 by driving many Malaitans from their homes.

Early in 2000, Malaitans, frustrated at perceived government inaction in meeting their demands for compensation for the properties they had left behind on Guadalcanal, raided the police armoury at Auki, Malaita and seized all its weapons. These were gradually transferred over to Honiara and on 5 June a force calling itself the Malaita Eagle Force/Joint Operation seized the police armoury in Honiara, in collaboration with sympathetic members of the local police (RSIP), and held Prime Minister Ulufa'alu hostage. On 14 June 2000, Ulufa'alu resigned 'for his own safety' and to appease the MEF. Following some protracted negotiations between the new government and the two militant groups (IFM and MEF) a cease-fire agreement was finally signed for 30 days on 5 August 2000. Despite occasional breaches by both sides it was generally observed.

An integral part of the cease-fire agreement was that a Peace Agreement had to be signed by early November 2000. The final negotiations of the agreement took place at an army base in Townsville (Australia) and the Townsville Agreement was signed on 15 October 2000. Inter-ethnic fighting ceased and some 2,000 weapons were subsequently handed in to the International Peace Monitoring Team (IPMT). But many high-powered weapons remained in the hands of former militants, and a climate of fear perpetuated due to continuing violent criminality and police corruption. The economic situation continued to deteriorate owing to the general lawlessness. In early 2003 the Government was subjected to armed threat by a small number of police to extract millions of dollars of public funds claimed as compensation. By this stage Government services were virtually non-existent due to the lack of funds – schools and clinics closed in many rural areas. The Solomon Islands became a failed State.

But 2003 also marked the beginnings of social and economic recovery. The arrival from the UK early in 2003 of a new Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) Commissioner, jointly funded by the UK and the EU, began to restore hope that the situation would be addressed. In July, a Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) arrived, an initiative led by Australia and New Zealand, with personnel support from other South Pacific countries. The combined military/police/civilian expert task force initially included 2,300 armed troops, helicopters, and five naval vessels.

RAMSI's first priority was restoration of law and order: this was achieved with remarkable success. Criminals were arrested and weapons were handed in without any loss of life. 300 Australian and regional policemen strengthened the RSIP and public confidence in the police started to return. The military component of RAMSI was scaled down at the end of 2003.

Considerable effort is now being directed at good governance and restoring Government services. This is expected to be a long term venture. Several complex issues, such as land rights, are among the fundamental issues affecting reform and development, and the rate of progress is unpredictable. In November 2003 a national economic recovery plan and budget was agreed by Parliament and presented to donors. The main international donors, i.e. World Bank, and Asian Development Bank, who had suspended activities due to the law and order problems committed to re-engage. The EU also announced the release of a package of funds worth €85 million, which had been on hold since 2000.

In April 2006, widespread rioting and looting took place following the election of a new Prime Minister, Snyder Rini. 90% of China Town in Honiara was destroyed along with many other buildings, including a major hotel. After a week in office, Mr Rini stepped down and a new Prime Minister, Mannaseh Sogavare was subsequently elected.

In April 2007, Western Province and Choiseul were hit by a tsunami following an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter Scale. 52 people are known to have lost their lives in the disaster and more than 6,000 people were made homeless as a result.

In December 2007, a new Government came to power after Prime Minister Sogavare had lost a vote of confidence in Parliament. Solomon Islands MPs subsequently elected Dr Derek Sikua as their new Prime Minister. During his first 18 months in Office, Prime Minister Sikua’s CNURA Government has focused on an ambitious legislative and policy agenda . This has included: a) pushing ahead with a political integrity bill; b) the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (which was opened by His Grace Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in April 2009); and the development of a Medium Term Development Strategy.

At the Same time the Sikua Government, working with its international partners, has continued with efforts to restore normality in the country. The critical task now ahead of RAMSI and other international aid donors is to help the Solomon Islands develop the capacity to run their own affairs successfully in the future.

Longer historical perspective

The UK declared a Protectorate over the Southern Solomons in 1893. Further islands were added to the Protectorate in 1898 when Choiseul and Isabel were transferred by treaty with Germany. Parts of the Solomon Islands were occupied by the Japanese during the Second World War, but were returned to British administration after the war, with responsibility gradually being passed to Solomon Islanders. On 7 July 1978 the Solomon Islands became an Independent Realm within the Commonwealth with The Queen as Head of State.

BBC News Timeline: Solomon Islands