The Minister for Foreign Affairs (commonly known as the Foreign Minister) is a cabinet minister responsible for foreign relations and diplomacy of Fiji, and oversees its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Especially since two military coups in 1987 harmed Fiji's relationship with other countries, with two more coups in 2000 and 2006 respectively, the Foreign Minister's position has been a very important one.
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Fiji | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | |
| Status | Foreign minister |
| Member of | Cabinet of Fiji |
| Seat | Government Buildings |
| Nominator | Prime Minister of Fiji |
| Appointer | President of Fiji |
| Term length | No term limit |
| Inaugural holder | Kamisese Mara |
| Formation | 10 October 1970 |
| Salary | FJ$130,000 annually[1] |
| Website | www |
Description of the office
editLike other ministers, the Foreign Minister is formally appointed by the President on the nomination of the Prime Minister, and is responsible to both the Prime Minister and the Parliament. The position may be held independently, or in conjunction with other ministerial responsibilities. From time to time, the Prime Minister has simultaneously served as Foreign Minister.
Along with all ministers, the Foreign Minister is constitutionally required to be a member of the Parliament.
List of ministers
edit- Political parties
- Other factions
- Symbols
The following is a list of foreign ministers of Fiji since the country gained independence in 1970:[2][3]
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004) |
|
1970–1982 |
| 2 | Mosese Qionibaravi (1938–1987) |
|
1982–1983 |
| 3 | Jonati Mavoa (1922–1985) |
|
1983–1985 |
| 4 | Semesa Sikivou (1917–1990) |
|
1985–1986 |
| (1) | Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004) |
|
1986–1987 |
| 5 | Krishna Datt (born 1944) |
.jpg)
|
1987[a] |
| (1) | Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004) |
|
1987 |
| 6 | Filipe Bole (1936–2019) |
.jpg)
|
1987–1988 |
| (1) | Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004) |
|
1988–1992 |
| (6) | Filipe Bole (1936–2019) |
|
1992–1994 |
| 7 | Major-General (Rtd) Sitiveni Rabuka (born 1948) |
|
1994 |
| (6) | Filipe Bole (1936–2019) |
|
1994–1997 |
| 8 | Berenado Vunibobo (1932–2015) |
|
1997–1999 |
| 9 | Tupeni Baba (1942–2024) |
|
1999–2000[b] |
| 10 | Kaliopate Tavola (born 1946) |
.jpg)
|
2000–2006[c] |
| — | Isikeli Mataitoga Acting |
|
2006–2007 |
| 11 | Brigadier-General (Rtd) Ratu Epeli Nailatikau (born 1941) |
|
2007–2008 |
| 12 | Commodore Frank Bainimarama (born 1954) |
|
2008–2009 |
| (12) | 2009 | ||
| 13 | Ratu Inoke Kubuabola (born 1948) |
.jpg)
|
2009–2016 |
| (13) | |||
| (12) | Rear Admiral (Rtd) Frank Bainimarama (born 1954) |
|
2016–2019 |
| 14 | Inia Seruiratu | _(cropped).jpg)
|
2019–2020 |
| (12) | Rear Admiral (Rtd) Frank Bainimarama (born 1954) |
|
2020–2022 |
| (7) | Major-General (Rtd) Sitiveni Rabuka (born 1948) |
|
2022–present |
Notes
edit- ^ Deposed in the May 1987 coup d'état.
- ^ Deposed in the 2000 coup d'état.
- ^ Deposed in the 2006 coup d'état.
References
edit- ^ Government of Fiji Gazette (3 October 2014). "PARLIAMENTARY REMUNERATIONS DECREE 2014 (DECREE NO. 29 OF 2014)" (PDF). www.parliament.gov.fj.
- ^ "History". Archived from the original on 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Foreign ministers E-K". rulers.org. B. Schemmel. Retrieved 12 March 2015.