Honiara – Jeremiah Manele has lost his position as leader of the Solomon Islands after parliament voted against him in a no-confidence motion following heated accusations of corruption and bribery.
A total of 26 members of the 50-seat parliament voted to remove Mr Manele, ending his two-year term as prime minister. A new leader is expected to be chosen next week, although the governing bloc has not yet announced its preferred candidate.
Opposition leader Matthew Wale and former foreign minister Peter Shanel Agovaka are considered leading contenders for the role. Mr Agovaka played a key role in the vote after leaving Mr Manele’s government.
During the parliamentary debate, Mr Agovaka accused unnamed ministers of corruption, claiming some had provided tax exemptions and government funding to associates for personal benefit.
In his final speech as prime minister, Mr Manele reflected on the importance of political loyalty. Mr Wale later thanked him for his service, acknowledging the challenges of leading the country.
Security was increased across the capital, Honiara, with nearly 1,000 police officers deployed to prevent unrest. Authorities remain cautious, as previous no-confidence motions have led to riots and instability.