Solomon Islands election count underway, China critic Suidani regains seat

HONIARA: A prominent Solomon Islands critic of China, the ousted former governor of Malaita province Daniel Suidani, has been reelected, local media reported on Friday (Apr 19), as counting continues in an election being closely watched by China, the US and Australia.

The first results in national and provincial elections held in the Solomon Islands are expected to be announced on Friday, as counting continues over the weekend.

The national election is the first since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare struck a security pact with China in 2022 and drew the Pacific Islands nation closer to Beijing, in moves that concerned the US and Australia because of the potential impact on regional security.

Suidani, whose new political party U4C also ran candidates in the national election, was reelected to the Malaita provincial assembly, national broadcaster SIBC reported on Friday morning.

As governor he had banned Chinese companies from Malaita, the Solomon Islands' most populous province, and accepted US development aid before being ousted in a no confidence vote last year.

Suidani has long suspected China of working behind the scenes to orchestrate his removal.

Suidani's provincial government was so concerned about China's sway that it blocked telecoms giant Huawei from building desperately needed cell phone towers on the island.

"That is something that is very concerning - the influence of the (Chinese Communist Party) in this country," Suidani told AFP earlier this week as elections kicked into gear.

China sent its top envoy for the South Pacific to Malaita province this month to sign a memorandum of understanding with the new governor Martin Fini, but his failure to reclaim his seat now puts that agreement in doubt.

"The people here in Malaita don't agree with the ruling government for the past 12 months," Suidani told AFP on Friday.

"All of these things contributed, including the signing of the provincial relationship with Jiangsu."

Counting in Sogavare's electorate of East Choiseul would start on Friday, SIBC reported.

There is a heavy police presence outside counting centres providing security, elections chief Jasper Highwood Anisi said on Thursday.

Police and defence forces from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are assisting with election security.

The 50 members of the national parliament are elected for a four-year term, and the seat results, which are expected to be known by Monday, will indicate if any party has achieved a majority, or if negotiations to form a coalition are needed before a prime minister is selected.