Snyder Rini

8th Prime Minister of Solomon Islands (1948–2025)

Snyder Rini

Rini in 2004

Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
In office
20 April 2006 – 4 May 2006
Monarch| Elizabeth II
Governor‑General| Nathaniel Waena
Preceded by| Allan Kemakeza
Succeeded by| Manasseh Sogavare
Personal details
Born| (1948-07-27)27 July 1948
Telina, British Solomon Islands (now in Western Province, Solomon Islands)
Died| 5 August 2025(2025-08-05) (aged 77)
Political party| Association of Independent Members[needs update]

Snyder Rini (27 July 1948 – 5 August 2025) was a Solomon Islands politician who was briefly the prime minister of Solomon Islands from April to May 2006 and was Minister for Finance and Treasury 2000–2001, 2002–2003, 2007–2010 and 2014–2017.[1][2] He represented the Marovo constituency in the National Parliament from 1997 until his death.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Rini was born in Telina village in Marovo Lagoon of Western District, British Solomon Islands on 27 July 1948.[3] He attended Kukudu Primary School and the Seventh Day Adventist’s Betikama Secondary School before going to Papua New Guinea in 1970 to study at the Kambubu High School. He graduated with degrees in accounting from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1971 and the University of Technology in Lae in 1974.[4]

## Politics

[edit]

Rini was Permanent Secretary for the Ministry for Natural Resources in 1989 and was Chairman of Solomon Islands National Provident Fund from 1990 to 1996. He was also Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of National Planning and Development from 1994 to 1995 and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries from January 1997 to June 1997. He was first elected to the National Parliament in the August 1997 election. Under Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, he served as Minister of Finance and Treasury from July 2000 to December 2001. Re-elected to Parliament in December 2001, he became deputy prime minister and Minister for National Planning & Development in that month; after one year, he became deputy prime minister and Minister for Finance and Treasury in December 2002, and he then became deputy prime minister and Minister for Education and Human Resources Development in mid-2003, remaining in that post until April 2006.[3]

Rini was re-elected to his seat in the April 2006 parliamentary election.[3] Rini's subsequent election as prime minister by Parliament on 18 April 2006 caused riots as some claimed the election had been fixed, that Rini was linked to alleged corruption in the previous government and that Rini's government would be unduly influenced by local Chinese businessmen[5] and one or both of the mainland China and Republic of China (Taiwan) governments. Originally to be sworn in as prime minister on 19 April, this was delayed until the following day because of the riots and conducted without prior notice so as to avoid triggering further violence. In response to the violence, extra Australian, New Zealand and Fijian police and defence personnel were dispatched as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands to try to enable his new government to regain control.[citation needed]

On 26 April, Rini resigned immediately before facing a motion of no confidence in Parliament. The news of his resignation caused celebrations in the streets of Honiara.[5][6] His successor, Manasseh Sogavare, took office on 4 May 2006, defeating Rini's deputy prime minister, Fred Fono, in the vote to replace Rini.[citation needed]

Fono, as Leader of the Opposition, named Rini as Shadow Minister of National Planning and Aid Coordination on 16 May 2006.[7] After Sogavare was defeated in a no-confidence vote in December 2007, Rini became Minister for Finance and Treasury under Prime Minister Derek Sikua on 21 December 2007.[8]

Following the replacement of Manasseh Sogavare as prime minister by Rick Houenipwela on 15 November 2017, Sogavare became Minister of Finance of the Solomon Islands.[citation needed]

## Death

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Rini died on 5 August 2025, at the age of 77.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Hon. Snyder Rini". National Parliament of Solomon Islands.
2. ^ "Hon. Snyder Rini". National Parliament of Solomon Islands.
3. ^ a b c "Hon. Snyder Rini". parliament.gov.sb. National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
4. ^ "Former PM Snyder Rini dies, 77". Island Sun. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
5. ^ a b "Embattled Solomons PM steps down". BBC News. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
6. ^ "Rini resigns as Solomons PM". The New Zealand Herald. Reuters, Newstalk ZB. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
7. ^ "Solomons opposition names shadow cabinet", Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text website (nl.newsbank.com), 16 May 2006.
8. ^ Joanna Sireheti and Joy Basi, "Prime Minister Sikua Unveil Cabinet", Solomon Times Online, 22 December 2007.
9. ^ "Parliament pays tribute to Late Snyder Rini". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 5 August 2025.

## Sources

[edit]

* Election as PM[permanent dead link]
* Riots in response

Political offices

Preceded by

Allan Kemakeza

|  Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
18 April 2006 – 4 May 2006  | Succeeded by

Manasseh Sogavare

* v
* t
* e

Prime ministers of Solomon Islands

* Peter Kenilorea
* Solomon Mamaloni
* Peter Kenilorea
* Ezekiel Alebua
* Solomon Mamaloni
* Francis Billy Hilly
* Solomon Mamaloni
* Bartholomew Ulufa'alu
* Manasseh Sogavare
* Allan Kemakeza
* Snyder Rini
* Manasseh Sogavare
* Derek Sikua
* Danny Philip
* Gordon Darcy Lilo
* Manasseh Sogavare
* Rick Houenipwela
* Manasseh Sogavare
* Jeremiah Manele

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