Former Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare pushed back sharply on Wednesday when asked by journalists whether he had defected to the Opposition to become Prime Minister, saying he had never in his life fought for the role—it was always offered to him.
Sogavare and his former deputy PM Manasseh Maelanga—both key figures in the DCGA government from 2019 to 2024—faced the media to explain their decision to leave the ruling coalition led by current PM Manele under the GNUT banner.
When asked whether he had crossed to the Opposition in a bid to become Prime Minister again, Sogavare responded sharply: “That’s a very, very narrow view. That’s what people are thinking. I never, never in my life fight to be prime minister. It was offered to me.”
He added: “We came here and the new coalition will decide on that one. We will leave that to the new group to decide on it.”
Sogavare, a four-time Prime Minister, holds the record for the most terms in office in Solomon Islands’ post-independence political history.
He is also one of only two Prime Ministers to complete a full four-year term, alongside Sir Allan Kemakeza. However, Sogavare remained in office slightly longer than Kemakeza after parliament amended the Constitution to allow his government to host the 2023 Pacific Games.
Addressing the current political crisis, Sogavare blamed it on poor decision-making and weak leadership.
“It should not have reached this stage if the prime minister had acted decisively and in the national interest,” he said.
