Solomon Islands election count underway, China critic Suidani regains seat

HONIARA: Daniel Suidani, a prominent Solomon Islands critic of China who was former Malaita province premier, has been reelected to the provincial assembly,, local media reported on Friday (Apr 19), as counting continues in the key Pacific island nation's election.

The national election is the first since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare struck a security pact with China in 2022 and drew the Pacific Islands nation closer to Beijing, in moves that concerned the US and Australia because of the potential impact on regional security.

The national election is the first since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare struck a security pact with China in 2022 and drew the Pacific Islands nation closer to Beijing, in moves that concerned the US and Australia because of the potential impact on regional security.

Results in national and provincial elections held in the Solomon Islands on Wednesday are being announced over several days, closely watched by China, the US and Australia.

Suidani, whose new political party U4C also ran candidates in the national election, was reelected to the Malaita provincial assembly, national broadcaster SIBC reported on Friday morning.

As premier he had banned Chinese companies from Malaita, the Solomon Islands' most populous province, and accepted US development aid before being ousted last year in a no confidence vote by lawmakers for his refusal to recognise China.

Suidani has long suspected China of working behind the scenes to orchestrate his removal.

Suidani's provincial government was so concerned about China's sway that it blocked telecoms giant Huawei from building desperately needed cell phone towers on the island.

"That is something that is very concerning - the influence of the (Chinese Communist Party) in this country," Suidani told AFP earlier this week as elections kicked into gear.

China sent its top envoy for the South Pacific to Malaita province this month to sign a memorandum of understanding with the new premier, Martin Fini. Fini lost his seat in the provincial assembly, electoral officials said on Friday, which means he would no longer be eligible to be premier.

"The people here in Malaita don't agree with the ruling government for the past 12 months," Suidani told AFP on Friday.

"All of these things contributed, including the signing of the provincial relationship with Jiangsu."

Suidani, a former school teacher, had challenged his disqualification in the High Court, although the case was yet to proceed at the time of the election.

There is a heavy police presence outside counting centres providing security, elections chief Jasper Highwood Anisi said.

Police and defence forces from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are assisting with election security.

The 50 members of the national parliament are elected for a four-year term, and the seat results, which are expected to be known by Monday, will indicate if any party has achieved a majority, or if negotiations to form a coalition are needed before a prime minister is selected.