Saufatu Sopoanga

Saufatu Sopoanga
Sopoanga in 2003
8th Prime Minister of Tuvalu
In office
2 August 2002 – 27 August 2004
MonarchElizabeth II
Governors General
Preceded byKoloa Talake
Succeeded byMaatia Toafa
Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu
In office
11 October 2004 – 14 August 2006
Prime MinisterMaatia Toafa
Preceded byMaatia Toafa
Succeeded byTavau Teii
Minister of Finance
In office
14 December 2001 – 2 August 2002
Prime MinisterKoloa Talake
Personal details
Born(1952-02-22)22 February 1952
Nukufetau, Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Died15 December 2020(2020-12-15) (aged 68)
Tuvalu
SpouseFilifau Sopoanga
Children4
RelativesEnele Sopoaga (brother)
Alma mater

Saufatu Sopoanga OBE (22 February 1952 – 15 December 2020)[1] was a Tuvaluan politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Tuvalu from 2 August 2002 to 27 August 2004.[2] He drew international attention for his speeches warning about the effects of the rising sea level on Tuvalu and other low-lying island countries.

He later served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006. His younger brother Enele Sopoaga served as Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2013 to 2019.

  1. ^ "外交部對吐瓦魯前總理索法圖逝世表達深切哀悼". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  2. ^ Clements, John (2005). Clements' encyclopedia of world governments. Political Research, inc. p. 382. Retrieved 3 March 2011.