It’s been a busy year in the Pacific as usual, compounded by the ever intensifying geo-strategic competition playing out between the U.S, Australia and their allies and China.  

These are BenarNews Pacific’s “most read” stories for 2024.

Papua New Guinea counts cost of riots as prime minister vows Cabinet reshuffle

Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby was rocked by rioting with the cost of looting and violence inflicting heavy damage on the impoverished Pacific island country’s economy.

2024.01.15

[AFP]

Tonga’s king attempts to strip prime minister of defense portfolio

Tonga’s monarch “withdrew confidence and consent” in two members of the cabinet in a controversial move under the royal powers outlined in the country’s 2010 constitution. 

2024.02.06

[Mary Lyn Fonua/AFP]

Fiji’s media freedom ranking jumps, Papua New Guinea’s plummets

Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index jumped into the top tier of countries after its government in 2023 repealed a draconian media law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. 

2024.05.03

[Saeed Khan/AFP]

Fiji’s former PM Bainimarama jailed for one year for obstructing justice

After 16 years in office, the High Court ruled that Bainimarama as prime minister took the oath of allegiance but his actions were a breach of public trust.

2024.05.09

[BenarNews]

PNG landslide: Thousands more to evacuate as death toll mounts

Villages down hill from a landslide disaster in Papua New Guinea’s highlands were evacuated over fears more of the mountainside would crush them. The final death toll was at least 160.

2024.05.27

[International Organization for Migration/AP]

Fiji, PNG call for UN decolonization mission to riot-struck New Caledonia

Fiji and Papua New Guinea urged the U.N.’s decolonization committee to expedite a visit to the French-controlled Pacific territory of New Caledonia after pro-independence protests turned violent.

2024.06.11

[Delphine Mayeur/AFP]

Fiji, PNG fail to secure UN human rights mission to Indonesia’s Papuan provinces

Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights confirms no progress by the Pacific leaders despite a U.N. report highlighting increasing violent incidents and civilian casualties involving security forces and pro-independence groups.

2024.07.23

[Tatan Syuflana/AP]

Dozens feared raped, killed in Papua New Guinea massacre

Women and girls were reportedly raped and among more than two dozen people killed during days of tribal violence in Papua New Guinea’s north-west.

2024.07.24

[Supplied]

200 unexploded WWII shells uncovered in Solomon Islands capital

Honiara is estimated to be littered with thousands of bombs and shells left behind on the battlefield after the six-month Battle of Guadalcanal ended in 1943.

2024.08.20

[RSIPF]

French Polynesian president asks UN to bring France into decolonization talks

Any United Nations’ role in negotiating the territory’s self-determination aspirations has been rejected by France.

2024.10.09

[UNTV]

Marshall Islands wins UN Human Rights Council seat with climate, nuclear justice agenda

A Pacific nation finally takes a seat again at the United Nations Human Rights Council from 2025, with climate change and nuclear justice as its top priorities.

2024.10.10

[RMI Office of the President]

Photos: Samoa welcomes first British king to visit Pacific islands

Top of CHOGM’s to-do list were climate change and oceans as leaders from 56 Commonwealth nations met in the Pacific.

2024.10.23

[Manaui Faulalo/AFP]

US missile test intercepts, downs ballistic target from Guam air base

The Missile Defense Agency declares the first Guam missile test successful as the military build-up on the U.S. territory continues in response to China’s ambitions in the Pacific.

2024.12.10

[U.S. Missile Defense Agency]