Jeremiah Manele

Manele grew up in the village of Samasodu on the island of Santa Isabel.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=7 December 2014 |title=New, but capable |url=https://www.solomonstarnews.com/new-but-capable/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=Solomon Star News |language=en-US |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503004651/https://www.solomonstarnews.com/new-but-capable/ |url-status=live }} His high school education began at an Anglican school, Selwyn College, in Guadalcanal, where he later taught, before completing his year 6 at King George VI School in Honiara.{{Cite web |title=Hon Jeremiah Manele {{!}} National Parliament of Solomon Islands |url=https://www.parliament.gov.sb/index.php/profile/hon-jeremiah-manele |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=www.parliament.gov.sb |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502074130/https://www.parliament.gov.sb/index.php/profile/hon-jeremiah-manele |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Selwyn College unveils Golden Jubilee event |url=https://theislandsun.com.sb/selwyn-college-unveils-golden-jubilee-event/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=theislandsun.com.sb |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503004652/https://theislandsun.com.sb/selwyn-college-unveils-golden-jubilee-event/ |url-status=live }} He studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Public Administration at the University of Papua New Guinea, graduating in 1991.{{Cite web |date=2 May 2024 |title=Jeremiah Manele is new Solomon Islands Prime Minister |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/515780/jeremiah-manele-is-new-solomon-islands-prime-minister |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502021007/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/515780/jeremiah-manele-is-new-solomon-islands-prime-minister |url-status=live }} He returned to studies briefly in 1995–96, completing post graduate work at the University of Oxford.

In the start of his career, Manele represented the Solomon Islands as a career diplomat.{{Cite web |title=Address by the Foreign Minister of Solomon Islands |url=https://www.nziia.org.nz/events/address-by-solomon-islands-minister-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=www.nziia.org.nz |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503083410/https://www.nziia.org.nz/events/address-by-solomon-islands-minister-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=November 2020 |title=WTO Trade for Peace |url=https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/09_honourable_mr_jeremiah_manele_bio.pdf |access-date=2 May 2024 |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430055229/https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/09_honourable_mr_jeremiah_manele_bio.pdf |url-status=live }} He was appointed to diplomatic postings as Counsellor and later Charge d'Affaires of the Solomon Islands Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.{{Cite web |title=Solomon Islands Pro-China PM Says Not Standing For New Term |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/solomon-islands-pro-china-pm-says-not-standing-for-new-term-5a33a44c |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=Barron's |language=en-US |archive-date=29 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429165545/https://www.barrons.com/news/solomon-islands-pro-china-pm-says-not-standing-for-new-term-5a33a44c |url-status=live }}

Afterwards, he held senior government positions, serving as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Development Planning, Secretary to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.{{Cite web |date=August 2021 |title=Asia-Pacific Regional Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme |url=https://www.un.org/ldc5/sites/www.un.org.ldc5/files/speakers_2.pdf |publisher=United Nations |access-date=3 May 2024 |archive-date=4 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104212913/https://www.un.org/ldc5/sites/www.un.org.ldc5/files/speakers_2.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |year=2006 |title=Contact Information for Solomon Islands |url=http://www.pacreip.org/index.php?id=234 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806055112/http://www.pacreip.org/index.php?id=234 |archive-date=6 August 2007 |access-date=30 March 2007 |publisher=PACREIP}} He also served as Secretary to the Solomon Islands Government-RAMSI Intervention Taskforce.

File:Minister for Foreign Affairs Jeremiah Manele with Foreign Minister of Chile, Alberto van Klaveren during 78th session of the UN General Assembly.jpg

Manele was first elected to parliament in 2014, representing the division of Hograno-Kia-Havulei.{{Cite web |title=Alphabetical Listing of Members of the 10th Parliament {{!}} National Parliament of Solomon Islands |url=https://www.parliament.gov.sb/index.php/page/alphabetical-listing-members-10th-parliament |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=www.parliament.gov.sb |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503004658/https://www.parliament.gov.sb/index.php/page/alphabetical-listing-members-10th-parliament|url-status=live }} Following the election, the Solomon Islands People's Democratic Coalition, made up of the Democratic Alliance, the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA) and the People First Party, nominated Manele for prime minister.{{cite news |title=Manele: I'm humbled by my nomination |url=https://www.solomonstarnews.com/manele-i-m-humbled-by-my-nomination/ |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=Solomon Star |date=7 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208234108/https://www.solomonstarnews.com/manele-i-m-humbled-by-my-nomination/ |archive-date=8 February 2023|url-status=live}} Manele was defeated in the 9 December parliamentary vote by Manasseh Sogavare, earning 19 votes to Sogavare's 31.{{cite news |last1=Kando |first1=Tony |title=Sogavare Elected Prime Minister |url=https://www.solomontimes.com/news/sogavare-elected-prime-minister/8336 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=Solomon Times |date=9 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203211654/https://www.solomontimes.com/news/sogavare-elected-prime-minister/8336 |archive-date=3 December 2023|url-status=live}} Early in his Parliamentary career, he was the leader of the opposition in the 10th Parliament of Solomon Islands.{{Cite web |date=2 May 2024 |editor-last=Komai |editor-first=Makereta |title=Jeremiah Manele is the new Prime Minister of Solomon Islands {{!}} PINA |url=https://pina.com.fj/2024/05/02/jeremiah-manele-is-the-new-prime-minister-of-solomon-islands/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502022209/https://pina.com.fj/2024/05/02/jeremiah-manele-is-the-new-prime-minister-of-solomon-islands/ |url-status=live }} He later joined government benches, serving as the Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination (2017–2018). He was re-elected in the 2019 general election and served as the minister for development planning and aid coordination in the 11th Parliament.{{Cite web |title=Members of the Current Parliament (11th Parliament) {{!}} National Parliament of Solomon Islands |url=https://www.parliament.gov.sb/page/members-current-parliament-11th-parliament?page=2 |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=www.parliament.gov.sb |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503004844/https://www.parliament.gov.sb/page/members-current-parliament-11th-parliament?page=2 |url-status=live }} Subsequently, Manele was made Minister of Foreign Affairs on 25 April 2019, travelling widely in the role.{{Cite web |title=FIVE MORE MINISTERS SWORN-IN |url=https://solomonislandsembassy.com/news-and-media/five-more-ministers-sworn-in/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=Solomon Islands Embassy |language=en-US |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503004654/https://solomonislandsembassy.com/news-and-media/five-more-ministers-sworn-in/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=12 December 2023 |title=Government House officially commissions H.E Barrett Salato as Ambassador of Solomon Islands to PRC. – Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) |url=https://www.sibconline.com.sb/government-house-officially-commissions-h-e-barrett-salato-as-ambassador-of-solomon-islands-to-prc/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=18 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318180307/https://www.sibconline.com.sb/government-house-officially-commissions-h-e-barrett-salato-as-ambassador-of-solomon-islands-to-prc/ |url-status=live }} Later that year, he travelled to Beijing to formalise relations between the Solomon Islands and the People's Republic of China.{{Cite news |last=Needham |first=Kirsty |date=3 May 2024 |title=Solomon Islands picks China-friendly Manele as new prime minister |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/solomon-islands-chooses-jeremiah-manele-new-prime-minister-2024-05-02/ |work=Reuters}} In this role, Manele signed a security pact with China on 30 March 2022, though at the time, the details of the pact were not publicly known.{{Cite web |title=Churches remain silent on Sino-SI security pact |url=https://theislandsun.com.sb/churches-remain-silent-on-sino-si-security-pact/ |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=theislandsun.com.sb |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604044517/https://theislandsun.com.sb/churches-remain-silent-on-sino-si-security-pact/ |url-status=live }}

In the 2024 Solomon Islands general election, Manele retained his seat under the banner of the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party, though he had previously been affiliated with the Democratic Alliance Party.{{Cite web |title=China-friendly foreign minister Manele becomes Solomon Islands PM |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/05/5d9364c30f95-update2-solomon-islands-foreign-minister-manele-elected-as-pm.html |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Kyodo News+ |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503004650/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/05/5d9364c30f95-update2-solomon-islands-foreign-minister-manele-elected-as-pm.html |url-status=live }} The party was unable to form an outright majority, and could not form a working coalition under its existing leader, Manasseh Sogavare.{{Cite web |title=Solomon Islands pro-China PM Manasseh Sogavare fails to secure majority |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/24/solomon-islands-pro-china-pm-manasseh-sogavare-fails-to-secure-majority |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=24 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424070504/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/24/solomon-islands-pro-china-pm-manasseh-sogavare-fails-to-secure-majority |url-status=live }} Following the election, OUR Party renewed alliances with the Kadere and People First parties, forming the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation.{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Koroi |title=Manasseh Sogavare bows out of prime ministerial race in Solomon Islands |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/515516/manasseh-sogavare-bows-out-of-prime-ministerial-race-in-solomon-islands |access-date=2 May 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429230309/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/515516/manasseh-sogavare-bows-out-of-prime-ministerial-race-in-solomon-islands |archive-date=29 April 2024|url-status=live}} Manele became OUR Party leader on 29 April, after Sogavare stepped down from role and declined to seek another term as prime minister.{{cite news |last1=Kusu |first1=Fredrick |title=Coalition for National Unity and Transformation nominates Jeremiah Manele as PM Candidate |url=https://www.sibconline.com.sb/coalition-for-national-united-and-transformation-nominates-jeremiah-manele-as-pm-candidate/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |work=Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429231535/https://www.sibconline.com.sb/coalition-for-national-united-and-transformation-nominates-jeremiah-manele-as-pm-candidate/ |archive-date=29 April 2024|url-status=live}} In a secret parliamentary ballot for prime minister on 2 May, Manele won 31 votes, defeating Matthew Wale. That day, he was invited to form a government by Governor-General David Vunagi, and was sworn in as the prime minister.{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Koroi |title=Jeremiah Manele is new Solomon Islands Prime Minister |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/515780/jeremiah-manele-is-new-solomon-islands-prime-minister |access-date=3 May 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502021007/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/515780/jeremiah-manele-is-new-solomon-islands-prime-minister |archive-date=2 May 2024|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=2 May 2024 |title=Jeremiah Manele elected prime minister in Solomon Islands, which is likely to keep close China ties |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/01/solomon-islands-prime-minister-jeremiah-manale/d8f8a72c-0825-11ef-b186-090cb777107e_story.html |access-date=3 May 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503114627/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/01/solomon-islands-prime-minister-jeremiah-manale/d8f8a72c-0825-11ef-b186-090cb777107e_story.html |url-status=live }}

He is described as China-friendly as he has pledged to continue the Solomon Islands' international policy that drew it closer to China.{{cite web |last1=Needham |first1=Kirsty |date=2 May 2024 |title=Solomon Islands picks China-friendly Manele as new prime minister |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/solomon-islands-chooses-jeremiah-manele-new-prime-minister-2024-05-02/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=Reuters |location=Sydney}} At the time of becoming Prime Minister, Western analysts, such as Meg Keen at the Lowy Institute, assessed that Manele would be a "less fiery and combative leader for the West to manage but he will continue to pursue close relations with China".{{Cite web |date=2 May 2024 |title=Solomon Islands lawmakers elect former foreign minister as new prime minister |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/national/24293314.solomon-islands-lawmakers-elect-former-foreign-minister-new-prime-minister/ |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502042215/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/national/24293314.solomon-islands-lawmakers-elect-former-foreign-minister-new-prime-minister/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Why the Solomon Islands election matters to China and the U.S. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/01/solomon-islands-election-china/ |access-date=4 May 2024 |work=washingtonpost |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502135946/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/01/solomon-islands-election-china/ |url-status=live }} Manele's cabinet was sworn in on three different ceremonies, with the first 11 assuming office on 4 May.{{cite news |title=New Ministers Sworn In |url=https://www.sibconline.com.sb/new-ministers-sworn-in-3/ |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation |date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506110907/https://www.sibconline.com.sb/new-ministers-sworn-in-3/ |archive-date=6 May 2024|url-status=live}} Manele appointed Bradley Tovosia deputy prime minister while Sogavare became finance minister.{{cite news |title=Nine more Ministers sworn-in |url=https://www.sibconline.com.sb/nine-more-ministers-sworn-in/ |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation |date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507021706/https://www.sibconline.com.sb/nine-more-ministers-sworn-in/ |archive-date=7 May 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=DPM and two more ministers sworn-in |url=https://www.sibconline.com.sb/dpm-and-two-more-ministers-sworn-in/ |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation |date=7 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508010136/https://www.sibconline.com.sb/dpm-and-two-more-ministers-sworn-in/ |archive-date=8 May 2024|url-status=live}}

In December 2024, Central Honiara MP and former Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo introduced a motion of no confidence. Lilo later withdrew the motion due to a lack of support.{{cite news |title=Lilo Withdraws Motion After Speaker Confirms Parliament Will Proceed as Scheduled |url=https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/motion-withdrawn/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |work=Tavuli News |date=16 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119163243/https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/motion-withdrawn/ |archive-date=19 January 2025 |url-status=live}}

On 28 April 2025, Lilo introduced a second no confidence motion. The motion follows political instability, including the resignation announcement of Deputy Prime Minister Bradley Tovosia and reports of cabinet ministers defecting to the opposition. The motion is expected to be moved in Parliament around 6 May.{{cite news |last1=Staunton |first1=Margot |last2=Hawkins |first2=Koroi |date=28 April 2025 |title=Motion of no confidence filed against Solomon Islands PM Jeremiah Manele|url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/motion-of-no-confidence-filed-against-solomon-islands-pm-jeremia/105226392 |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

Together with his wife Joycelyn, Manele has four daughters and two sons.

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Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Isabel Province

Category:Prime ministers of the Solomon Islands

Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of the Solomon Islands

Category:Members of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands

Category:Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party politicians

Category:University of Papua New Guinea alumni

Category:20th-century Solomon Islands people

Category:21st-century Solomon Islands people

Category:Date of birth missing (living people)