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Frank Bainimarama

February

Shin Ok-ju, now jailed for fraud, founded the Grace Road Church and moved with around 400 of its followers to Fiji in 2014.

The doomsday cult taking over Fiji and building ‘paradise’

The story of how a fringe South Korean church convinced Fijians to embrace its business empire – and ignore its dark side – is one with security implications for Australia.

August 2023

Reinforcing connections: Anthony Albanese and Sitiveni Rabuka in Nadi in March.

How Fiji got a nasty lesson in Chinese authoritarianism

The Pacific nation watched in shock as Chinese security agents marched what it said were 77 criminal suspects onto a plane and flew them away for detention in China.

March 2023

Former Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama in 2022.

Fiji former PM arrested, bailed on abuse of power charge

Frank Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho have been charged with abuse of office.

December 2022

Fiji police set up checkpoints around the country following the election.

Fiji on edge after defeated PM calls in military

Tensions have risen after last week’s election delivered a hung parliament. Fiji has a history of military coups.

Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Suva  in July.

Fiji’s strongman leader loses majority in national poll

Frank Bainimarama has led Fiji since 2006, when the then-army chief seized power in a military coup.

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July 2022

Fiji prime minister  Frank Bainimarama presents Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a Wau war club during a bilateral meeting at the Pacific Islands Forum on Wednesday.

Economic integration the right way to step up in the Pacific

There is a strategic great game going on in the Pacific. But initiatives to better economically integrate with the most aid-dependent region in the world are the right moves.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare greets Anthony Albanese at the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji.

Albanese ‘confident’ China won’t build a base in Solomon Islands

Anthony Albanese had a constructive first meeting Solomons Island leader Manasseh Sogavare.

May 2022

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

Fiji PM calls meeting with Wong ‘wonderful’

Frank Bainimarama said he had a “wonderful meeting” with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who travelled to Fiji days after being sworn in to show the new government’s attention to the Pacific Islands.

Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in 2019.

US secures Fiji backing in blow to China’s Pacific plans

China’s behaviour is “deeply destabilising”, the White House says as Beijing insists it doesn’t want a sphere of influence in the South Pacific.

October 2021

Nations like Fiji are at the heart of the cyclonic storm.

Fiji’s PM: Go to Glasgow with commitments

Australia and Fiji share all the dangers of climate change in the Pacific. Canberra now needs to follow the Fijian path of firm commitments in law.

March 2021

Journalists work as video of World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus is played on a giant screen.

World leaders form a queue to shake up WHO

One group of 20-plus leaders revved up the campaign for a new treaty, while another just wanted to vent at a lacklustre mission to China.

June 2020

Fiji

Fiji to open borders to Aussies and Kiwis in 'Bula Bubble' plan

Plans are forming to allow tourism into the Pacific paradise, but strict rules will be in place.

September 2019

Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama and Prime Minister Scott Morrison

Fiji alarm over Qantas plan to increase flights

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has expressed his alarm to Scott Morrison about Qantas' bid to increase the number of direct flights to Fiji, hard on the heels of the Pacific Island's national flag carrier warning it would hurt its economy.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/frank-bainimarama-2y5