Matthew Wale

The Honourable
Matthew Wale
CBE
Wale in 2026
Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 May 2026
Monarch
Governor-General
DeputyFrancis Sade
Preceded byJeremiah Manele
Leader of the Opposition
In office
17 May 2019 – 15 May 2026
Preceded byManasseh Maelanga
Succeeded byManasseh Sogavare
Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 March 2008
Preceded byBartholomew Ulufa'alu
Personal details
Born (1968-06-13) 13 June 1968 (age 58)
Ambu Village, Malaita Province, British Solomon Islands
PartyDemocratic Party

Matthew Cooper Wale CBE (born 13 June 1968) is a Solomon Islands politician serving as prime minister of Solomon Islands since 2026. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been a member of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands since 2008, representing the Aoke/Langalanga constituency, and served as the official Leader of the Opposition from 2019 to 2026.

Political career

Wale was elected in a special election held on 27 March 2008 following the death of sitting MP Bartholomew Ulufa'alu.

Following the 2019 general election, Wale was appointed as Leader of the Opposition on 17 May 2019.

In 2021, amid mass unrest in the country, Wale called for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to step down. On 28 November 2021, Wale filed a no-confidence motion against the Sogavare government, with debate scheduled for 6 December. The motion was ultimately defeated.

Wale opposed the security agreement signed by Sogavare and the Chinese government in 2022.

Following the 2024 general election, Wale was a nominee for the position of prime minister. Wale, who received 18 votes, lost to Jeremiah Manele, who received 31 votes.

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours for political and public service.

On 15 May 2026, Wale was elected prime minister by the National Parliament of Solomon Islands after Manele was removed in a no-confidence vote on 7 May. In June 2026, Wale announced that he would review a security agreement with China signed by then-prime minister Sogavare in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "The Hon. Matthew Cooper Wale". National Parliament of Solomon Islands. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  2. ↑ "New Members for East Malaita and Aoke-Langalanga", Solomon Times, March 29, 2008
  3. ↑ "PINA | Pacific Islands News Association". Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "Solomon Islands Extraordinary Gazette, No. 85 (20 May 2019)". paclii. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Hurst, Daniel (25 November 2021). "Australia sends troops and police to Solomon Islands as unrest grows". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Sasako, Alfred (29 November 2021). "NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION FILED". Solomon Star. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  7. ↑ Agence France-Presse (1 December 2021). "Solomon Islands unrest: New Zealand to send dozens of peacekeepers". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "Solomon Islands PM survives no-confidence vote after unrest". BBC News. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "Former China hawk Matthew Wale elected Solomon Islands' leader". BBC News. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Piringi, Charley (15 May 2026). "China critic Matthew Wale elected Solomon Islands prime minister". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Jeremiah Manele is new Solomon Islands Prime Minister". RNZ. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "No. 64612". The London Gazette (6th supplement). 31 December 2024. p. N62.
  13. ↑ "Bribery and corruption barbs thrown as Solomon Islands PM voted out of office". ABC News. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Matthew Wale becomes Solomon Islands prime minister after secret ballot win". ABC News. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "New prime minister says Solomon Islands will review its secretive security treaty with China". AP News. 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.