In 2015, the population of the Solomon Islands was estimated to be around 613,000 people. The economy of the Solomon Islands was based on agriculture, fishing, and forestry. It was heavily dependent on foreign aid from countries like Australia and New Zealand. Politically, the Solomon Islands was a constitutional monarchy ruled by Queen Elizabeth II since 1978. In 2015, His Excellency Manasseh Sogavare served as Prime Minister while His Excellency Sir Frank Kabui served as Governor-General. The Parliament of the Solomon Islands was composed of two chambers: National Parliament and Provincial Assemblies. In terms of defence, the Solomon Islands had strong military ties with Australia which it joined in 1999 as part of its post-independence security policy. The Solomon Islands also maintained strong diplomatic relations with its neighboring countries in Oceania as well as other countries around the world. See ehealthfacts for Solomon Islands in the year of 2005.
Yearbook 2015
Solomon Islands. According to COUNTRYAAH, Honiara is the capital of Solomon Islands which is located in Melanesia. Corruption continued to plague the country. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said at the beginning of the year that his newly appointed government would set up an independent anti-corruption agency. But in April, the members of Parliament decided on tax exemptions for their own recently raised wages. Sogavare defended the measure, but the decision was met by popular protests. According to the anti-corruption agency Transparency International, it was “outrageous” in light of an economy with major shortcomings in schools, services and roads. Solomon Islands is one of the world’s most aid-dependent countries. Only about a tenth of the residents have paid work, while most of them live on self-catering.
- Also see AbbreviationFinder.org for Solomon Islands country abbreviations, including geography, history, economy and politics.
In May, local landowners on the island of Guadalcanal had to take over the Gold Ridge gold mine from the Australian owner. The mine had been lying down for a year after severe floods that stopped production. The rain of the tropical cyclones threatened to flood the mine’s waste dust with the risk of discharges of large amounts of arsenic, cyanide and heavy metals. The mine has previously accounted for about 5% of the country’s GDP.
During the year, the Solomon Islands were haunted by the cyclone Pam, which caused severe damage to the islands in the east, where Tikopia was described as a desert landscape with many houses and 90% of the harvest and fruit trees destroyed.
Dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Sogavare in October led to seven of his ministers leaving the government and demanding his resignation following allegations of corruption. The opposition demanded a vote of no confidence against Sogavare, but did not get a sufficient majority so the vote was withdrawn.
Prior to the UN Climate Summit in Paris in December, Solomon Islands’ first climate refugees were noted. Residents of the Atong Java Atoll have left their homes, some 40 miles out in the sea, and settled in a slum area in the capital Honiara on the Guadalcanal. Their atoll is flooded with salt water which reduces the harvest while the population grows. Warmer climates, worse weather, elevated sea level and worse surge waves are seen as threats to many of the Solomon Islands low-lying islands.
History. – Veterans from a civil conflict (1998-2003) and from a season of tensions and violence, at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. the IS aimed at achieving greater political stability. This was the context of the government initiative chaired by Derek Sikua, who in 2009 presented a White Paper of proposals for the development of effective governance, the strengthening of the party system, the reform of the electoral system and the methods of electing the first minister. Also in 2009, a Commission for Truth and Reconciliation was established, with the aim of identifying the causes of the clashes between 1998 and 2003 and investigating the violations of human rights perpetrated during the conflict; a task force was also set up to combat corruption, which is deeply rooted in the country. During the Sikua government, prime minister since December 2007 after the parliamentary vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, the relations of the IS with Australia also improved: the executive in fact removed the Attorney General Julian Moti, whom Australia intended to try for alleged sexual abuse of minors; the proceedings opened against him after his extradition were however stopped in 2011, as the transfer of the accused to Brisbane was considered illegal.
In the elections of August 2010, the relative majority of seats (19) were won by independent candidates and the post of prime minister was entrusted to Danny Philip, a veteran of the country’s politics. However, Philip remained in office only until November 2011: accused of embezzlement of funds, the premier decided to resign before Parliament voted a motion of no confidence against him, being replaced by Gordon Darcy Lilo. Under the government of Lilo, in July 2013, the progressive withdrawal of the military component of RAMSI (Regional Assist ance Mission to Solomon Islands) began, the Australian- led regional assistance mission present in the country since 2003. However, it remained active as a mission of police.
Due to torrential rains, in April 2014 the country was hit by severe floods that damaged homes and infrastructures, also affecting economic activities.
In November 2014, the IS returned to the vote: independent candidates won 32 out of 50 seats, outgoing premier Lilo was not re-elected to parliament and Sogavare took up the post of prime minister for the third time.