Kiribati has banned foreign diplomatic visits until 2025 due to national elections in a move that has left officials scrambling for more information.
A letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration sent to foreign diplomatic missions and obtained by AAP states,” due to ongoing national elections, no visits will be permitted … until the end of December”.
“This measure is necessary to enable the government to focus on essential tasks during this period,” the letter, dated August 20, said.
“The ministry expresses its gratitude for your patience and understanding regarding this decision.”
What the edict means to overseas diplomatic missions remains unclear, with officials scrambling to determine what it’s aimed at.
A diplomatic source, who requested anonymity, said they believed the move was designed to give the new government “breathing space”.
“Many countries would seek to visit Kiribati just after the election and non-resident diplomats would seek to travel to Tarawa to present credentials,” the source said.
“Both visits require quite a lot of resource … it’s still early days, but that’s the initial interpretation.”
Kiribati is a sprawling Micronesian nation on the equator home to around 120,000 people on 32 atolls and one coral island.
Despite its small population, it has the 12th biggest exclusive economic zone in the world and has significant strategic importance.
President Taneti Maamau and opposition leader Tessie Lambourne have retained their seats in the first round of voting and results from the second round in several seats are trickling through.
Independents will emerge as kingmakers, the Lowy Institute’s Meg Keen told AAP.
“The country is important to Australia and the leadership is going to matter for future engagement.”
Pacific Islands Forum leaders are set to meet in Tonga from August 26 but Maamau isn’t expected to attend.
A representative, most likely a minister, is likely to head to the annual meeting of Pacific leaders, alongside Anthony Albanese and others.
Australia has endured recent troubles in its dealings with Kiribati.
Diplomatic visa applications have dragged on and a navy officer was expelled and banned for two years after handing in paperwork late.
Negotiations on a new bilateral strategic partnership – which was initially set to be finalised by July 2023 – had also been shelved by Mr Maamau until after the elections.
The decision by the Kiribati government to shut access is also likely to cruel New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ bid to visit all 17 PIF member nations this year.
The veteran Kiwi politician, in his third stint as foreign minister, has visited 14 since taking office last November, with just Kiribati, crisis-hit New Caledonia and French Polynesia remaining.
