Australia ‘does not take a position’ on internal matters within Solomon Islands

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2030

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne says Australia “does not take a position” on the internal matters of the Solomon Islands.

Violent protests have broken out in the capital Honiara as citizens are calling for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s resignation.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday responded to Sogavare after he wrote to Morrison, deploying ADF and AFP to assist in the matter.

“I expect and am confident that our post in Honiara is engaging with all relevant officials across the Honiara system,” Payne said.

“That includes a range of members of parliament, as you would expect, to ensure that we are clearly conveying the reasons that Australia has taken this step, the formal request that was received under the Bilateral Security Treaty of 2017 and our focus on supporting the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force,” she said.

SOURCE: SKY NEWS/PACNEWS