General Election, 17 April 2024

Solomon Islands held general elections on 17 April 24 (Aljazeera 2024). The general election determines the succeeding prime minister for a four-year term, by a simple majority among the 50 members of National Parliament (SIEC n.d.; Inter-Parliamentary Union n.d.). Following the polls—in which no party gained enough seats for outright victory—former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele was elected Prime Minister with the support of 31 MPs (Aljazeera 2024). 

The country’s election management body is the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC). The SIEC is run by Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner Jasper Highwood Anisi (Solomon Islands n.d.; Solomon Islands 2024b). In addition to running the Parliamentary Elections, the SIEC oversees the Provisional Assembly Elections and the Honiara City Council Elections – results for the latter were declared on 30 April 2024. 

G7+ observers stated that the election was in general free, peaceful and transparent – albeit ballot secrecy was not assured in all polling stations and some polling staff were unable to vote during the day due to their being registered at another location (G7+ EOM). Turnout for the 2024 election increased by 15 per cent, at 82.35 per cent in comparison to 67.54 per cent in 2021 (International IDEA 2024). 

Three women candidates were elected to the parliament. There is a legislative mandate that parties should include at least 10 per cent women candidates on their lists, however, six of 13 parties contesting seats listed no women candidates (Baker 2024). 

Following the result, Prime Minister Manele urged the public to refrain from resorting to ‘violence and destruction’ and to ‘uphold the democratic process’ (Dziedzic 2024). This was a reference to the events of 2021 when then-Prime Minister Sogavare’s decision to sever relations with Taiwan in exchange for increased security relations with China was greeted with protest (the 2021 protests also reflected dissatisfaction with high unemployment) (Aljazeera 2021; Walden 2021).

Although Sogavare made unsupported claims about the outcome (alleging Western interference), the post-electoral period in 2024 was calmer. Manele’s foreign policy is expected to pivot away from China and take a more conciliatory position toward Australia (Sas 2024).