Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands — an archipelago of nearly 1,000 islands in the South Pacific — was thrust into the international spotlight when it recognized the People’s Republic of China in 2019 and entered into a security pact with Beijing in 2022. Conflict in Solomon Islands largely stems from competition for scarce resources and economic inequalities, precarities which are exacerbated by climate change. Solomon Islands also has some of the highest rates of domestic and gender-based violence in the world. USIP supports local researchers and convenes key civil society leaders to better understand drivers of conflict in Solomon Islands.
Featured Publications
It’s Not Too Late for Solomon Islands’ Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Established in 2008, the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was tasked with investigating the country’s civil conflict that killed 200 people and displaced more than 20,000 others between 1998 and 2003. The commission was the first of its kind in the Pacific Islands region, and its proponents hoped it could heal people’s lasting trauma by addressing human rights violations, promoting national unity and fostering reconciliation.
Will Solomon Islands' New Leader Bring It Closer to China?
On April 17, Solomon Islands held an election that was closely watched by China and the United States and its partners. In the following weeks, members of parliament (MPs) jockeyed to form a governing coalition, finally electing Jeremiah Manele as prime minister on May 2.
Malaita and the Provincial-National Divide in Solomon Islands
In 2019, Malaita Province in Solomon Islands made geopolitical headlines when its former premier, Daniel Suidani, came out against the country’s closer bilateral relations with China. As a result of his stance, Suidani was removed from his position in February 2023.