The race to form the next government in Solomon Islands intensifies as the inconclusive election has delivered no clear winner yet.
The Solomon Islands held a joint election for both national and provincial governments on April 17, 2024.
The joint election was held for the first time in the country’s history.
More than 300-thousand voters participated, without a clear winner yet as the counting of votes continues.
The results are highly anticipated since it will shape not only the future of the Melanesian nation but also the direction of its foreign relations with world powers
The international community anticipates the results of the high-stakes elections as China and Australia together with its Western allies race for influence in the tiny Pacific nation.
However, analysts said residents in the Solomon Islands are more interested in solving “bread and butter” issues such as health, education, and cost of living.
A leader of an opposition party pledged to revive ties with Taiwan after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare severed ties and switched allegiance with China in 2019.
Sogavare was narrowly re-elected to his seat under the East Choiseul constituency.
Meanwhile, the pro-China prime minister’s Ownership, Unity, and Responsibility Party has won only 15 of 50 seats so far in the parliament which means it failed to secure a majority.
However, Sogavare said he still exercises power over security in the Pacific Islands nation and will attempt to negotiate with opposition parties to form a government in the coming days.
