The Solomon Islands ousted Daniel Suidani, a vocal critic of China and the leader of the country’s largest province, in a no-confidence motion on Tuesday.
Overview
According to Australia’s public broadcaster ABC, the motion was passed unanimously by 17 lawmakers after they accused Suidani, the premier of Malaita province, of misappropriating government funds to pay his personal security guards’ wages and illegally soliciting money from a Chinese-owned mining company.
Police have reportedly used tear gas to control a small group of rioters, who were protesting the vote of no confidence.
— Marian Faa (@marianfaa) February 7, 2023
Suidani and his supporting assembly members were absent from the vote, which was unanimous.
Although the former leader has thus far refrained from speaking to the press regarding the issue, his supporters claim that Suidani has appealed the motion in the country’s High Court, questioning the Speaker’s decision to allow the vote to be held.
Protest Against Suidani’s Ouster
Over a hundred of the premier’s supporters gathered in Auki, the capital of Malaita Province, during the time of the vote, and scuffles broke out following the result.
The protesters were intercepted by riot police, who used tear gas to break up the crowd. The unrest escalated when protestors tried to pass through a police cordon.
UPDATE
— ABC Pacific (@ABCPacific) February 7, 2023
Daniel Suidani has been removed as premier of Malaita Province after 17 provincial assembly members voted against him this morning.
The Solomon Islands provincial leader, a vocal critic of the country’s relations with China, was ousted in a vote of no-confidence. /1
Police confirmed that one police officer had been injured during the incident but assured that the situation was now under control.
Auki has since been placed under lockdown, and flights out of the island have been delayed.
Controversial Stance on China
Tensions between Solomon Islands’ capital Honiara and Malaita — the island nation’s most populous province — have been exacerbated after PM Manasseh Sogavare cut ties with Taiwan and officially switched to establish ties with China.
Despite this, Suidani continued to maintain ties with Taiwanese diplomats.
Big news in Solomon Islands via @_Chrisnrita_ - Daniel Suidani has been removed as Malaita Province premier after 17 provincial assembly members voted against him. Suidani has previously pushed for independence + has been one of the fiercest critics of China in Solomon Islands 1/ https://t.co/9cYtb5OrpU
— Stephen Dziedzic (@stephendziedzic) February 7, 2023
On multiple occasions, Suidani has attempted to secure Malaita’s independence from the Pacific Islands country, which he accuses of hoarding resources and neglecting development in Malaita.
The leader gained international prominence after he launched a campaign against Honiara’s controversial security deal with Beijing, which allows China to set up a military base in the country.