Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has arrived in Tonga for the 53rd Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting. The event, themed “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki: Build Better Now,” is scheduled to take place from August 26 to August 30.
The Government of Tonga is hosting the Forum, with Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni serving as chair. Later today, PM Rabuka will also meet with the Fijian community in Tonga.
Rabuka was part of a three-member Pacific leaders delegation involved in the Forum Troika-led mission to New Caledonia, which followed unrest that started on May 13, 2024. This mission was originally expected to report to Forum Leaders during the meeting in Tonga.
However, this week the Forum released a statement indicating that the New Caledonia Government highlighted several issues related to due process and protocol that must be resolved before a Troika visit can occur. Discussions about the situation in New Caledonia will be part of the Leaders meeting, which aims to provide guidance on how to address the ongoing issues.