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 Solomon Islands| Facts & Figures |
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| Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II
(1952) Governor-General: Nathaniel Waena
(2004) Prime Minister: Manasseh Sogavare
(2006) Land area: 10,633 sq mi (27,539 sq km);
total area: 10,985 sq mi (28,450 sq km) Population (2009 est.): 595,613 (growth
rate: 2.3%); birth rate: 27.7/1000; infant mortality rate:
19.0/1000; life expectancy: 73.7; density per sq mi: 53
Capital and largest city (2003 est.):
Honiara (on Guadalcanal), 54,600 Monetary unit: Solomon Islands
dollar More Facts & Figures |
GeographyA scattered archipelago of about 1,000 mountainous islands and
low-lying coral atolls, the Solomon Islands lie east of Papua New Guinea
and northeast of Australia in the south Pacific. The islands include
Guadalcanal, Malaita, Santa Isabel, San Cristóbal, Choiseul, New Georgia,
and the Santa Cruz group.
GovernmentParliamentary democracy.
HistoryIt is thought that people have lived in the Solomon Islands since at
least 2000
B.C.
Explored in 1568 by Alvaro de
Mendana of Spain, the Solomons were not visited again for about 200 years.
In 1886, Great Britain and Germany divided the islands between them, but
later Britain was given control of the entire territory. The Japanese
invaded the islands in World War II, and they were the scene of some of
the bloodiest battles in the Pacific theater, most famously the battle of
Guadalcanal. The British gained control of the island again in 1945. In
1976 the islands became self-governing and gained independence in
1978.
The border with Papua New Guinea (PNG) remained a source of tension in
the 1990s. Incursions into Solomon Islands territory by PNG forces, who
were countering secessionist action on neighboring Bougainville Island,
gave rise to formal protests in mid-1997.
Since early 1999, the Isatabu Freedom Movement, a militia group made up
of indigenous Isatabus from Guadalcanal, have expelled more than 20,000
Malaitans from the island. The Malaitans had migrated from nearby Malaita,
and many secured jobs in the capital, Honiara, stirring resentment among
Isatabus that has grown steadily since independence. In response to the
ethnic violence and expulsions, a rival Malaitan militia group was
founded, the Malaita Eagle Force. In June 2000, the Malaita Eagle Force
stole police weapons, forced Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu to
resign, and seized control of Honiara. The rival groups agreed to a
cease-fire in June 2000, barely averting a civil war. Although a peace
agreement had been signed and elections had taken place, the country
continued to suffer from lawlessness. In July 2003, at the request of the
prime minister, a 2,250-strong international peacekeeping force led by
Australia arrived on the island to restore order, disarm the militias, and
expel the “thieves, drunkards, and extortionists” from the notoriously
corrupt police force. Australia's intervention was highly successful, and
two years after troops had arrived, the country remained relatively
stable.
In April 2006 Snyder Rini was appointed prime minister. Rioting and
looting followed—many claimed Rini, who had previously served as deputy
prime minister, was beholden to Chinese interests. Eight days later he
stepped down. The parliament then elected the opposition candidate,
Manasseh Sogavare, to the post.
A magnitude 8.0 earthquake and tsunami struck the Solomon Islands in
April 2007, killing at least 20 people and destroying villages.
See also
Encyclopedia:
Solomon Islands
.
U.S. State Dept. Country
Notes: Solomon Islands
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