Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale made an emergency trip back to Honiara on Sunday morning from Palau after a motion of no confidence was filed against him.
Wale was in Palau to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting as its current chair. He was suppose to hand over the chairmanship to Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr in Palau.
Wale, 57, was elected prime minister of the country on 15 May and has been in office for just over 100 days.
The no-confidence motion against him on over the weekend has been filed by East Malaita MP and Minister of Home Affairs Manasseh Maelanga. The Solomon Islands parliament has confirmed it has received the notice.
Maelanga is accusing Wale of making unilateral decisions without proper consultation and without taking matters through cabinet.
“The Motion follows concerns that the Prime Minister has repeatedly made decisions on matters of national importance without properly consulting Cabinet or obtaining its approval,” Maelanga said in the statement.
“I have taken this step with confidence in our democratic institutions and a firm commitment to stable, transparent and accountable government.”
Maelanga has also rejected claims that the challenge against Wales leadership was intended to derail ongoing investigations.
The motion is the first major political challenge for Wale since coming to power.
He had only just landed in Palau when news of the no-confidence motion back home reached him. When questioned at the airport by a Solomon Islands journalist on the matter.
“When I go, I will tell you more, ” Wale said. He was gone the next day in the early hours of the morning.
Other Solomon Islands officials who travelled with the prime minister to Palau were surprised to hear about the leadership challenge.
Local media have described the no-confidence motion against Wale as an “internal coalition revolt”.
“There appears to be split within the GREAT Coalition. Few Ministers and MPs within the GREAT Coalition are likely to tender their resignations,” according to a report by Solomon Star.
Pacific security and geopolitics expert Dr Anna Powles described the timing of the no-confidence motion as “deeply unfortunate”.
