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Jeremiah Manele

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The Honourable
Jeremiah Manele
MP
Manele in 2022
Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
Caretaker
Assumed office
2 May 2024
Monarch
Governors-General
DeputyBradley Tovosia
Preceded byManasseh Sogavare
Leader of OUR Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 April 2024
Preceded byManasseh Sogavare
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
25 April 2019 – 2 May 2024
Prime MinisterManasseh Sogavare
Preceded byMilner Tozaka
Succeeded byPeter Shannel Agovaka
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 2014
Personal details
Born1968 (age 57–58)
PartyOUR Party (since 2019)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic Alliance Party (until 2019)
University of Papua New Guinea

Jeremiah Manele (born 1968) is a Solomonese politician who has served as prime minister of Solomon Islands since 2024 and under caretaker government as of 2026. He was the first prime minister of the country to come from Isabel Province.[1]

Early life and education

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Manele grew up in the village of Samasodu on the island of Santa Isabel.[2] His high school education began at a Guadalcanal Anglican school, Selwyn College (where he later taught), before completing his year 6 at King George VI School in Honiara.[3][4] He studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Public Administration at the University of Papua New Guinea, graduating in 1991.[5] He returned to studies briefly in 1995–96, completing post graduate work at the University of Oxford.[5][2]

Civil service

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In the start of his career, Manele represented the Solomon Islands as a career diplomat.[6][7] He was appointed to diplomatic postings as Counsellor and later Charge d'Affaires of the Solomon Islands Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.[6][8]

Afterwards, he held senior government positions, serving as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Development Planning, Secretary to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.[9][10] He also served as Secretary to the Solomon Islands Government-RAMSI Intervention Taskforce.[9]

Politics

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Then foreign minister, Manele is seen meeting with his counterpart from Chile, at the UN General Assembly in 2023

Manele was first elected to parliament in 2014, representing the division of Hograno-Kia-Havulei.[11] Following the election, the Solomon Islands People's Democratic Coalition, made up of the Democratic Alliance, the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA) and the People First Party (PFP), nominated Manele for prime minister.[12] Manele was defeated in the 9 December parliamentary vote by Manasseh Sogavare, earning 19 votes to Sogavare's 31.[13] Early in his Parliamentary career, he was the leader of the opposition in the 10th Parliament of Solomon Islands.[14] He later joined government benches, serving as the Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination (2017–2018).[6] He was re-elected in the 2019 general election and served as the minister for development planning and aid coordination in the 11th Parliament.[14][15] Subsequently, Manele was made minister of foreign affairs on 25 April 2019, travelling widely in the role.[16][17] Later that year, he travelled to Beijing to formalise relations between the Solomon Islands and the People's Republic of China.[18] In this role, Manele signed a security pact with China on 30 March 2022, though at the time, the details of the pact were not publicly known.[19]

Prime minister

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In the 2024 Solomon Islands general election, Manele retained his seat under the banner of the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party, though he had previously been affiliated with the Democratic Alliance Party.[2][20] The party was unable to form an outright majority, and could not form a working coalition under its existing leader, Manasseh Sogavare.[21] Following the election, OUR Party renewed alliances with the Kadere and People First parties, forming the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation.[22] Manele became OUR Party leader on 29 April, after Sogavare stepped down from role and declined to seek another term as prime minister.[23] In a secret parliamentary ballot for prime minister on 2 May, Manele won 31 votes, defeating Matthew Wale. That day, he was invited to form a government by Governor-General David Vunagi, and was sworn in as the prime minister.[24][25]

He is described as China-friendly as he has pledged to continue the Solomon Islands' international policy that drew it closer to China.[26] At the time of becoming prime minister, Western analysts, such as Meg Keen at the Lowy Institute, assessed that Manele would be a "less fiery and combative leader for the West to manage but he will continue to pursue close relations with China".[27][28] Manele's cabinet was sworn in on three different ceremonies, with the first 11 assuming office on 4 May.[29] Manele appointed Bradley Tovosia deputy prime minister while Sogavare became finance minister.[30][31]

No confidence motions

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In December 2024, Central Honiara MP and former Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo introduced a motion of no confidence. Lilo later withdrew the motion due to a lack of support.[32]

On 28 April 2025, Lilo introduced a second no confidence motion. The motion follows political instability, including the resignation announcement of Deputy Prime Minister Bradley Tovosia and reports of cabinet ministers defecting to the opposition. The motion was moved Parliament around 6 May.[33] Lilo later withdrew the second no confidence motion due to a similar lack of support.[34]

A third motion of no confidence was filed on 16 March 2026 after cabinet members from the PFP, the Our Party, Kandere, and U4C collectively resigned.[35][36] Cases launched by the opposition in the High Court and the Court of Appeal over the refusal to convene Parliament resulted in Manele being ordered to call the Parliament back by 7 May 2026.[37][38] Manele went on to lose the motion by 22 votes to 26.[39]

Personal life

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Together with his wife Joycelyn, Manele has four daughters and two sons.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Baratheon, Robert (2 May 2024). "Jeremiah Manele Elected Prime Minister of Solomon Islands". OnlineWiki. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "New, but capable". Solomon Star News. 7 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Hon Jeremiah Manele | National Parliament of Solomon Islands". www.parliament.gov.sb. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Selwyn College unveils Golden Jubilee event". theislandsun.com.sb. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Jeremiah Manele is new Solomon Islands Prime Minister". RNZ. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Address by the Foreign Minister of Solomon Islands". www.nziia.org.nz. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  7. ^ "WTO Trade for Peace" (PDF). November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Solomon Islands Pro-China PM Says Not Standing For New Term". Barron's. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Asia-Pacific Regional Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme" (PDF). United Nations. August 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Contact Information for Solomon Islands". PACREIP. 2006. Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2007.
  11. ^ "Alphabetical Listing of Members of the 10th Parliament | National Parliament of Solomon Islands". www.parliament.gov.sb. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Manele: I'm humbled by my nomination". Solomon Star. 7 December 2014. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ Kando, Tony (9 December 2014). "Sogavare Elected Prime Minister". Solomon Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b Komai, Makereta, ed. (2 May 2024). "Jeremiah Manele is the new Prime Minister of Solomon Islands | PINA". Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Members of the Current Parliament (11th Parliament)". National Parliament of Solomon Islands. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  16. ^ "FIVE MORE MINISTERS SWORN-IN". Solomon Islands Embassy. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Government House officially commissions H.E Barrett Salato as Ambassador of Solomon Islands to PRC. – Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC)". 12 December 2023. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  18. ^ Needham, Kirsty (3 May 2024). "Solomon Islands picks China-friendly Manele as new prime minister". Reuters.
  19. ^ "Churches remain silent on Sino-SI security pact". The Island Sun. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  20. ^ "China-friendly foreign minister Manele becomes Solomon Islands PM". Kyodo News+. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Solomon Islands pro-China PM Manasseh Sogavare fails to secure majority". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  22. ^ Hawkins, Koroi (30 April 2024). "Manasseh Sogavare bows out of prime ministerial race in Solomon Islands". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  23. ^ Kusu, Fredrick (29 April 2024). "Coalition for National Unity and Transformation nominates Jeremiah Manele as PM Candidate". Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  24. ^ Hawkins, Koroi (2 May 2024). "Jeremiah Manele is new Solomon Islands Prime Minister". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Jeremiah Manele elected prime minister in Solomon Islands, which is likely to keep close China ties". Washington Post. 2 May 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  26. ^ Needham, Kirsty (2 May 2024). "Solomon Islands picks China-friendly Manele as new prime minister". Reuters. Sydney. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Solomon Islands lawmakers elect former foreign minister as new prime minister". Oxford Mail. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Why the Solomon Islands election matters to China and the U.S." washingtonpost. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  29. ^ "New Ministers Sworn In". Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation. 4 May 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Nine more Ministers sworn-in". Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  31. ^ "DPM and two more ministers sworn-in". Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation. 7 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Lilo Withdraws Motion After Speaker Confirms Parliament Will Proceed as Scheduled". Tavuli News. 16 December 2024. Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  33. ^ Staunton, Margot; Hawkins, Koroi (28 April 2025). "Motion of no confidence filed against Solomon Islands PM Jeremiah Manele". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  34. ^ Mamu, Moffat (6 May 2025). "No confidence motion withdrawn". Solomon Star. Retrieved 6 May 2026. The motion of no confidence against Prime Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele has been withdrawn by the mover and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Honiara Gordon Darcy Lilo after Parliament resumed at 2pm this afternoon, Tuesday 6th May.
  35. ^ Kusu, Fredrick; Dadamu, Alex (17 March 2026). "Motion of No Confidence filed against Prime Minister Manele, PFP confirms formation of new coalition". Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 May 2026. The notice, signed by the former Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for South Vella La Vella, Frederick Kologeto was received yesterday and is now before Parliament for consideration.
  36. ^ "PFP: No confidence debate will reveal truth behind mass exodus". Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation. 25 March 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026. "The 12 ministers and 7 backbenchers that resigned were not only from PFP alone. Four were from Our Party, two from Kandere and one from U4C. The fact that members from different parties within GNUT resigned is evident that this is not a single-party issue but a clear indication of a fractured and failing coalition," the statement said.
  37. ^ Staunton, Margot (21 April 2026). "Solomon Islands Court of Appeal stalls move to oust PM Manele over constitutional concerns". RNZ. Retrieved 6 May 2026. On Friday, the court approved an application by the Attorney-General for a stay of execution, which temporarily suspended a decision by the Chief Justice for Manele to call parliament, which lapsed that day.
  38. ^ Hawkins, Koroi (4 May 2026). "Who could be the next Prime Minister of Solomon Islands?". RNZ. Retrieved 6 May 2026. The Court of Appeal has ordered the current Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to call parliament by 7 May to face a motion of no confidence in his leadership.
  39. ^ "Solomon Islands PM Jeremiah Manele ousted after just over two years in power". RNZ. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
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