Samoa to hold snap election on Aug. 29 after PM’s government collapses

The island nation of Samoa is gearing up for an early election on Aug. 29, following the collapse of Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa’s government last month. Fiamē, who made history as Samoa’s first female prime minister in 2021, now finds herself in a three-way political battle with significant implications for the region.

Against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical interest in the South Pacific, Samoa’s strategic importance is underscored as it becomes a focal point in the power play between China, Australia, and the United States. Additionally, the threat of climate change looms large over the archipelago, which is among the most vulnerable to rising sea levels.

The political landscape in Samoa shifted earlier this year when Fiamē’s FAST government faced internal turmoil following the dismissal of party chairman La’auli Leuatea Polataivao. Despite surviving two no-confidence votes, the government’s defeat over the budget prompted the call for an early election.

Now leading the newly formed Samoa Uniting Party, Fiamē is up against her former party HRPP, led by Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, and La’auli’s rebranded FAST. The announcement of the election date by the Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II, comes after the Supreme Court rejected a request for more time for election preparations.