Jeremiah Manele facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeremiah Manele
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Manele in 2022
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| Prime Minister of Solomon Islands | |
| In office 2 May 2024 – 15 May 2026 |
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| Monarch | |
| Governor-General |
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| Deputy | Bradley Tovosia |
| Preceded by | Manasseh Sogavare |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Wale |
| Leader of OUR Party | |
| Assumed office 29 April 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Manasseh Sogavare |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 25 April 2019 – 2 May 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Milner Tozaka |
| Succeeded by | Peter Shannel Agovaka |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 17 December 2014 – 24 November 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Derek Sikua |
| Succeeded by | Manasseh Maelanga |
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| Assumed office December 2014 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968 (age 57–58) |
| Political party | OUR Party (since 2019) |
| Alma mater | University of Papua New Guinea |
Jeremiah Manele (born in 1968) is a politician from the Solomon Islands. He served as the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands from May 2024 until May 2026. He was the first prime minister of the country to come from Isabel Province. Before becoming prime minister, Manele held important roles, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Opposition.
Contents
Jeremiah Manele: A Leader from the Solomon Islands
Early Life and Education
Manele grew up in the village of Samasodu on the island of Santa Isabel. He attended Selwyn College, an Anglican school on Guadalcanal. He later completed his final year of high school at King George VI School in Honiara. Manele then studied at the University of Papua New Guinea. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and Public Administration in 1991. He also did some advanced studies at the University of Oxford in 1995–1996.
Career in Public Service
In his early career, Manele worked as a diplomat for the Solomon Islands. He served in New York at the Solomon Islands Permanent Mission to the United Nations. There, he held positions as a Counsellor and later as Charge d'Affaires.
After his diplomatic work, he took on senior government roles. He was the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Development Planning. He also served as Secretary to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Later, he became the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. Manele also worked as Secretary for the Solomon Islands Government-RAMSI Intervention Taskforce.
Political Journey and Roles
Manele was first elected to the parliament in 2014. He represented the Hograno-Kia-Havulei area. After this election, a group of political parties nominated Manele for prime minister. However, he was not chosen for the role. Manasseh Sogavare won the parliamentary vote instead.
Early in his time in parliament, Manele served as the Leader of the Opposition. This meant he led the group of politicians who were not part of the government. Later, he joined the government. He became the Minister for Development Planning and Aid Coordination from 2017 to 2018.
Manele was re-elected in the 2019 Solomon Islands general election. He continued his role as minister for development planning. On April 25, 2019, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this role, he traveled widely to meet with leaders from other countries. He visited Beijing to formalize relations between the Solomon Islands and the People's Republic of China. As Foreign Minister, Manele signed a security agreement with China on March 30, 2022.
Becoming Prime Minister
In the 2024 Solomon Islands general election, Manele kept his seat in parliament. He ran under the OUR Party. After the election, the OUR Party formed a new group with other parties. This group was called the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation.
On April 29, 2024, Manele became the leader of the OUR Party. This happened after Manasseh Sogavare decided not to seek another term as prime minister. On May 2, Manele won a secret vote in parliament to become prime minister. He received 31 votes, defeating Matthew Wale. That same day, Governor-General David Vunagi asked him to form a government. Manele was then sworn in as the new prime minister.
As prime minister, Manele stated that he would continue the Solomon Islands' international policies. These policies aimed to strengthen relationships with various countries, including China. His cabinet members were sworn in during May 2024. Manele appointed Bradley Tovosia as his deputy prime minister. Manasseh Sogavare became the finance minister.
Changes in Leadership
During his time as prime minister, there were several attempts to change the leadership. In December 2024, a member of parliament, Gordon Darcy Lilo, proposed a motion of no confidence. This motion is a way for parliament to show if they no longer support the prime minister. However, Lilo later withdrew this motion because it did not have enough support.
Another motion of no confidence was introduced by Lilo on April 28, 2025. This happened during a time of political changes, including some ministers leaving the government. This second motion was also withdrawn due to a lack of support.
A third motion of no confidence was filed on March 16, 2026. This occurred after several cabinet members resigned from their positions. After legal challenges, Manele was ordered to call parliament back into session by May 7, 2026. On May 7, 2026, Manele lost the motion of no confidence by 22 votes to 26. This meant he was no longer the prime minister. His term as prime minister officially ended on May 15, 2026.
Personal Life
Jeremiah Manele is married to Joycelyn. They have four daughters and two sons.
See also
In Spanish: Jeremiah Manele para niños
