Coup leader v coup leader: strongman election shows cracks in Fiji’s democracy

Sitiveni Rabuka (left), the leader of Fiji’s first coup in 1987 and later prime minister, with the current PM, Frank Bainimarama, in 2018. Photograph: Fijian government Facebook page

The last time the Australian Labor party came to power (in 2007), Australia was imposing sanctions against Fiji as a result of the country’s fourth coup in 2006. Relations worsened before they improved and, partly at Australia’s prompting, Fiji was suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum in 2009.

Fast forward to 2022. Fiji’s 2006 coup leader is now its prime minister, Fiji is chairing the Pacific Islands Forum, and it was the first Pacific country that Australia’s new foreign minister, Penny Wong, visited.