Solomon Islands 
 

1893 - c.1907   1895 - c.1907 British Resident's Flag   c.1907 - 10 Mar 1947   10 Mar 1947 - 24 Sep 1956   24 Sep 1956 - 1966   1966 - 18 Nov 1977   Adopted 18 Nov 1977 Map of Solomon Islands Hear National Anthem "God Save Our Solomon Islands" Text of National Anthem Adopted 7 Jul 1978 Constitution (7 Jul 1978) Capital: Honiara (Tulagi 1893-1952) Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD); 1920-42  & 1944-1977 Australian Dollar (AUD); 1942-44 Oceania Gumpyo Pound (XOGP) National Holiday: 7 Jul (1978) Independence Day Population: 685,097 (2019) GDP: $1.33 billion (2017) Exports: $468.6 million (2017) Imports: $462.1 million (2017) Ethnic groups: Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (2009) Total Police Force: 1,442 (2012) Australian and New Zealand Forces: 300 (2024) Merchant marine: 27 ships (2022)  Religions: Protestant 73.4% (Church of Melanesia 31.9%, South Sea Evangelical 17.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.7%,  United Church 10.1%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 4%, unspecified 0.1%, none 0.03% (2009) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ADB, AIIB (applicant), AOSIS, APA (observer), APM, C, CTBT, CWC, ENMOD, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IRENA, ISA, ITU, MIGA, MSG, OPCW, PC, PIDF, PIF, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Solomon Islands Index Chronology  7 Feb 1568                Sighted by Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña                               Neyra (b. 1542 - d. 1595), named Islas de Salomon. 10 May 1568 - 13 Jun 1568  Spanish under Álvaro de Mendaña land at Puerto de                              la Cruz (modern Honiara) searching for gold. Jul/Aug 1767               British mariner Philip Carteret entered Solomon                              waters. 17 May 1885                German protectorate over German Solomon Islands                              (Deutschen Salomon-Inseln)(Buka, Bougainville,                              Choiseul, Santa Isabel and Ontong Java islands)                              (see Papua New Guinea)(rescinded 17 Mar 1899). 28-30 Oct 1886             Solomon Islands north of a line of demarcation                              included in German New Guinea: Buka, Bougainville                              (on 30 Oct), Choiseul (on Oct 28), Santa Isabel,                              Shortland Islands (on 29 Oct) and Ontong Java. 15 Mar 1893                British protectorate over southern islands                              (New Georgia, Guadalcanal, Malaita and San                              Cristobal islands) declared (British Solomon                              Islands Protectorate). 15 Mar 1893 - Jul 1971     Part of the British Western Pacific Territories. 18 Aug/12 Nov 1898         U.K. annexes the Santa Cruz, Rennell and                              Bellona Islands. 14 Nov 1899                Germany transfers Choiseul, Santa Isabel, the                              Shortland, and Ontong Java islands to British                              Solomon Islands, but retains Bougainville                               and Buka Islands by the Treaty of Berlin                              (effective 16 Feb 1900).   3 May 1942 - Dec 1943     Occupied by Japan (Tulagi 3 May - 9 Aug 1942,                               Guadalcanal 7 Jul 1942 - Feb 1943, remaining                              forces surrender on 5 Sep 1945). 1942 - 31 Mar 1946         British military administration.  7 Aug 1942 - 1946         U.S. forces stationed on the islands. 1944 - 1952                Ma'asina Ruru revolt on Malaita Island. 28 Aug 1973                Limited autonomy. 22 Jun 1975                Renamed Solomon Islands.  2 Jan 1976                Self-government.  7 Jul 1978                Independence from U.K. (Solomon Islands). 24 Jul 2003 - 30 Jun 2017  Intervention of Australian led Regional Assistance                              Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). 26 Nov 2021 -              Peacekeeping deployment led by Australia, New Zealand Provinces Historic Maps of Solomon Islands

Resident Commissioners (subordinated to the high commissioner for the
British Western Pacific [to 3 Jul 1952 the governor of Fiji])
1893 - 1896                None
1896 - Jan 1915            Charles Morris Woodford            (b. 1852 - d. 1937)
1915 - 15 Jul 1917         Frederick Joshua Barnett (acting)  (b. 1859 - d. 1917)
1917 - 1921                Charles Rufus Marshall Workman     (b. 1874 - d. 1942)
                             (acting to 1918)
1921 - Oct 1928            Richard Rutledge Kane              (b. 1877 - d. 1958)
1928                       Norman Studholme Brownrigg Kidson  (b. 18.. - d. 1954)
                             (acting)
1928                       Jack Charles Barley (acting)       (b. 1887 - d. 1956)
1928 - 1929                Ralph Brodhurst Hill (acting)      (b. 1880 - d. 1973)
1929 - 1939                Francis Noel Ashley                (b. 1884 - d. 1976)
1939 - Apr 1943            William Sydney Marchant            (b. 1894 - d. 1953)
                             (from 5 Oct 1942, military governor)
Japanese Commanders 
1942 - 1945                Harukichi Hyakutake                (b. 1888 - d. 1947) 
1945 -  5 Sep 1945         Masatane Kanda                     (b. 1890 - d. 1983) 
Resident Commissioners 
Apr 1943 - 24 Jul 1943     Charles Norman Frederick Bengough  (b. 1911 - d. 1943)
                             (acting)
1943 - 16 Oct 1943         David Clive Crosbie Trench (acting)(b. 1915 - d. 1988)
16 Oct 1943 - Oct 1948     Owen Cyril Noel                    (b. 1898 - d. 1970)
1945                       Alexander Nicol Anton Waddell      (b. 1913 - d. 1999)
                             (acting for Noel)
Oct 1948 - Feb 1950        Jean Daniel Arnauld Germond        (b. 1904 - d. 1967)
                             (acting)
Feb 1950 -  6 Jan 1953     Henry Graham Gregory-Smith         (b. 1899 - d. 19..)
Apr 1952                   Peter Hughes (acting for Smith)
May 1952                   Philip Arthur Richardson           (b. 1918)
                             (acting for Smith)
High Commissioners in, over, and for the Western Pacific
(exercising direct administration at Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 1 Jan 1953)
 3 Jul 1952 -  7 Jul 1955  Robert Christopher Stafford        (b. 1899 - d. 1981) 
                             Stanley (from 1 Jan 1954, Sir
                             Robert Christopher Stafford Stanley)
26 Sep 1955 -  4 Mar 1961  John Gutch                         (b. 1905 - d. 1988)
                             (from 13 Jun 1957, Sir John Gutch) 
 4 Mar 1961 - 16 Jun 1964  David Clive Crosbie Trench         (s.a.)
                             (from 2 Jun 1962, Sir David Clive Crosbie Trench)
16 Jun 1964 -  6 Mar 1969  Sir Robert Sidney Foster           (b. 1913 - d. 2005)
 6 Mar 1969 - 28 Sep 1973  Sir Michael David Irving Gass      (b. 1916 - d. 1983)
10 Oct 1973 - 21 Aug 1974  Donald Collin Cumyn Luddington     (b. 1920 - d. 2009)
Governors
21 Aug 1974 - 1976         Donald Collin Cumyn Luddington     (s.a.)
                             (from 12 Jun 1976, Sir Donald Collin Cumyn Luddington)
21 Oct 1976 -  7 Jul 1978  Colin Hamilton Allan               (b. 1921 - d. 1993)
                             (from 11 Jun 1977, Sir Colin Hamilton Allan) 
King/Queen¹
 7 Jul 1978 -              the King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
 7 Jul 1978 -  7 Jul 1988  Baddeley Devesi                    (b. 1941 - d. 2012)
                             (from 22 Feb 1980, Sir Baddeley Devesi) 
 7 Jul 1988 -  7 Jul 1994  George Gerea Dennis Lepping        (b. 1947 - d. 2014)
                             (from 17 Aug 1988, Sir George Gerea Dennis Lepping)
 7 Jul 1994 -  7 Jul 1999  Moses Puibangara Pitakaka          (b. 1945 - d. 2011)
                             (from 31 Mar 1995, Sir Moses Puibangara Pitakaka) 
 7 Jul 1999 -  7 Jul 2004  John Ini Lapli                     (b. 1955) 
                             (from 21 Oct 1999, Sir John Ini Lapli) 
 7 Jul 2004 -  7 Jul 2009  Nathaniel Rahumaea Waena           (b. 1945)
                             (from 31 Dec 2004, Sir Nathaniel Rahumaea Waena)
 7 Jul 2009 -  7 Jul 2019  Frank Utu Ofagioro Kabui           (b. 1946)
                             (from 11 Sep 2009, Sir Frank Utu Ofagioro Kabui)
 7 Jul 2019 -  7 Jul 2024  David Okete Vuvuiri Vunagi         (b. 1950)
                             (from 10 Sep 2019, Sir David Okete Vuvuiri Vunagi)
 7 Jul 2024 -              David Tiva Kapu

Chairmen of the Governing Council
28 Aug 1970 - Aug 1971     the High commissioner
Aug 1971 - 31 Oct 1972     Silas Sitai                        (b. 1920 - d. 1972)  Non-party
31 Oct 1972 - 28 Aug 1974  the High commissioners
Chief ministers
28 Aug 1974 - 14 Jul 1976  Solomon Sunaone Mamaloni           (b. 1943 - d. 2000)  PPP
14 Jul 1976 -  7 Jul 1978  Peter Kenilorea                    (b. 1943 - d. 2016)  SIUP
Prime ministers
 7 Jul 1978 - 31 Aug 1981  Peter Kenilorea (1st time)         (s.a.)             Ind;1980 SIUP
31 Aug 1981 - 19 Nov 1984  Solomon Sunaone Mamaloni (1st time)(s.a.)               PAP
19 Nov 1984 -  1 Dec 1986  Sir Peter Kenilorea (2nd time)     (s.a.)               SIUP
 1 Dec 1986 - 28 Mar 1989  Ezekiel Alebua                     (b. 1947 - d. 2022)  SIUP
28 Mar 1989 - 18 Jun 1993  Solomon Sunaone Mamaloni (2nd time)(s.a.)             PAP;1992 GNUR
18 Jun 1993 -  7 Nov 1994  Francis Billy Hilly                (b. 1948)            Ind + NCP
 7 Nov 1994 - 27 Aug 1997  Solomon Sunaone Mamaloni (3rd time)(s.a.)               SINURP
27 Aug 1997 - 30 Jun 2000  Bartholomew Ulufa'alu              (b. 1950 - d. 2007)  SILP + SIAC
                             (prisoner of MEF 5 Jun - 27 Jun 2000)
30 Jun 2000 - 17 Dec 2001  Manasseh Damukana Sogavare         (b. 1955)            PPP
                             (1st time)
17 Dec 2001 - 20 Apr 2006  Sir Allan Kemakeza                 (b. 1950)            PAP
20 Apr 2006 -  4 May 2006  Snyder Rini                        (b. 1949)            AIM
 4 May 2006 - 20 Dec 2007  Manasseh Damukana Sogavare         (s.a.)               SISCP
                             (2nd time) 
20 Dec 2007 - 25 Aug 2010  Derek Sikua                        (b. 1959)            SILP + SIAC
25 Aug 2010 - 16 Nov 2011  Danny Philip                       (b. 1953)           RDPSI + NCRA
16 Nov 2011 -  9 Dec 2014  Gordon Darcy Lilo                  (b. 1965)           SIPRA + NCRA
 9 Dec 2014 - 15 Nov 2017  Manasseh Damukana Sogavare         (s.a.)             OURP;Nov 2016
                             (3rd time)                                            Non-party
15 Nov 2017 - 24 Apr 2019  Rick "Hou" Houenipwela             (b. 1958)            SIDP
24 Apr 2019 -  2 May 2024  Manasseh Damukana Sogavare         (s.a.)               OURP
                             (4th time)
 2 May 2024 -              Jeremiah Manele                    (b. 1968)            OURP 

Special Coordinators of the Regional Assistance Mission
to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI)(all from Australia)
24 Jul 2003 - 27 Aug 2004  Nicholas "Nick" Peter Warner       (b. 1950)
27 Aug 2004 -  9 Nov 2006  James Batley
 9 Nov 2006 - 15 Jan 2009  Tim George
15 Jan 2009 -  1 Apr 2011  Graeme Wilson
 1 Apr 2011 - 15 Nov 2013  Nicholas Coppel
15 Nov 2013 -  8 Dec 2015  Justine Braithwaite (f)
 8 Dec 2015 - 30 Jun 2017  Quinton Devlin
Commanders of Combined Joint Task Group 637.3
26 Nov 2021 - 202.         Steve Frankel (Australia)
202. - 202.                Michael "Mick" Say (Australia)
202. -                     Giles Julia Cornelia (Australia)

  ¹Full style:
(a) 7 Jul 1978 - 1 Nov 2013: "By the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith";
(b) 1 Nov 2013 - 8 Sep 2022 (in non-statutory use since 1988): "By the Grace of God, Queen of Solomon Islands and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth";
(c) from 8 Sep 2022: "By the Grace of God, King of Solomon Islands and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Territorial Disputes: From 2003 to 2017, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and security.

Party abbreviations: AIM = Association of Independent Members of Parliament (founded by Tommy Chan, est. c.2001); Ind = Independent; NCRA = National Coalition for Reform and Advancement (coalition incl. NCRA, SIPRA, est.2010); OURP = Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party ("Our Party", former SISCP, est.16 Jan 2010); PAP = People's Alliance Party (social-democratic, est.1979); RDPSI = Reform Democratic Party of Solomon Islands (constitutional reform, est.2010); SIDP = Solomon Islands Democratic Party (est.Oct 2005); SILP = Solomon Islands Liberal Party (est.1988); SIPRA = Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (est.2006); SIUP = Solomon Islands United Party (conservative, est.1980);
- Former parties: GNUR = Group for National Unity and Reconciliation (group founded by Solomon Mamaloni, 1992-1994); MEF = Malaita Eagle Force (Malaita militia group, opposed Isatabu [Guadalcanal] Freedom Movement, 1999-2000); NCP = National Coalition Partnership (GNUR opposition, 1993-1994); PPP = People's Progressive Party (1989-late 1990s known as National Unity Group, 1973-2006); SIAC = Solomon Islands Alliance for Change (electoral coalition incl. SILP, SISCP, SIPRA, est.1997); SINURP = Solomon Islands National Unity, Reconciliation and Progressive Party (founded by Solomon Mamaloni, split from PAP, 1994-1997); SISCP = Solomon Islands Social Credit Party ("Socreds", advocated full monetary and financial reform, founded by Manasseh Sogavare, 2005-16 Jan 2010, merged into OURP)