Frank Bainimarama

In this Fijian name, Josaia is the given name, Voreqe is the middle name and Bainimarama is the surname. However, many Fijians use their middle name as either their given name or their surname.

Rear Admiral the Honourable[1]
Frank Bainimarama
CF (MIL), OStJ, MSD
Bainimarama in 2014
Prime Minister of Fiji
In office
5 January 2007 – 24 December 2022[a]
President
Preceded byJona Senilagakali
Succeeded bySitiveni Rabuka
Leader of the Opposition
In office
24 December 2022 – 8 March 2023
Prime MinisterSitiveni Rabuka
Preceded byNaiqama Lalabalavu
Succeeded byInia Seruiratu
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
16 April 2020 – 24 December 2022
Preceded byInia Seruiratu
Succeeded bySitiveni Rabuka
Leader of FijiFirst
In office
31 March 2014 – 7 June 2024
President of Fiji
Acting
In office
5 December 2006 – 4 January 2007
Prime MinisterJona Senilagakali
Preceded byJosefa Iloilo
Succeeded byJosefa Iloilo
In office
29 May 2000 – 13 July 2000
Prime MinisterLaisenia Qarase
Preceded byKamisese Mara
Succeeded byJosefa Iloilo
Personal details
Born
Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama

(1954-04-27) 27 April 1954 (age 70)
Kiuva, Colony of Fiji
Political partyFijiFirst (2014–2024)
SpouseMaria Makitalena
Children5
RelativesMeli Bainimarama (brother)
Alma materDalhousie University
Military service
Allegiance Dominion of Fiji (until 1987)
 Fiji (since 1987)
Branch/service Republic of Fiji Navy
Years of service1975–2014
Rank Rear admiral
Criminal information
Criminal statusIncarcerated
Conviction(s)One count of attempting to pervert the course of justice
Criminal penalty1 year in prison
Imprisoned atKorovou Corrections Centre[2]
^ a: Acting: 5 January 2007 – 22 September 2014
This article is part of
a series about
Frank Bainimarama
2006–2022 2022–2023
Timeline
General elections

Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama CF (MIL) OStJ MSD (Fijian: [tʃoˈsɛia βoˈreŋɡe mbɛiniˈmarama]; born 27 April 1954) is a Fijian former politician and naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst party, which he founded in 2014, he began his career as an officer in the Fijian navy and commander of the Fijian military. Despite being suspended from Parliament, he served as the opposition leader from 24 December 2022[3] until 8 March 2023, when he resigned and was replaced by Inia Seruiratu.[4]

Bainimarama attended Marist Brothers High School, the Asian Institute of Technology and Dalhousie University. He joined the Fijian Navy in 1975 and rose through the ranks, becoming an able seaman and a midshipman in 1976, an ensign in 1977, and later promoted to a sub-lieutenant at the end of that year. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1986 and became a commander in 1988. He later became captain in 1991. In 1997, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

In 1998, he was promoted to a commodore and later became the commander of the Armed Forces in 1999. In 2000, during a coup attempt, he convinced the President of Fiji Kamisese Mara to resign and formed an interim military government, which negotiated with the coup leaders. The military government was replaced by a civilian one by the end of the year. He relinquished command of the military in 2014, and in recognition of his military service, he was promoted to rear admiral.

Bainimarama instigated the 2006 coup, removing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power. He later restored Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president and himself as prime minister in 2007. Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014 and formed a party named FijiFirst. In the 2014 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a majority, and Bainimarama was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Epeli Nailatikau. In the 2018 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won an outright majority, and Bainimarama became prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018. In the 2022 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a plurality but was unable to form a government, meaning Bainimarama ceased to be prime minister after 16 years of rule, making him the second-longest serving Prime Minister of Fiji after Kamisese Mara. He was succeeded by the leader of the 1987 Fijian coups d'état, Sitiveni Rabuka.

Bainimarama resigned from Parliament and as the leader of the opposition in March 2023.[5] The next day, he was charged with abuse of office over allegations he and police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho interfered with an investigation into financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific.[6] On 14 March 2024, the High Court of Fiji convicted him of attempting to pervert the course of justice.[7] On 9 May 2024, he was sentenced to one year in prison.[8][9]

  1. ^ "Fiji Parliament directory". Parliament of Fiji. 24 December 2022. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  2. ^ Nataro, Ivamere. "Former Fiji PM Frank Bainimarama sentenced to year in jail". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Bainimarama elected as Opposition Leader". Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  4. ^ Fonua Talei (9 March 2023). "Inia Seruiratu To Lead Opposition To 'Keep Government In Check'". Fiji Sun. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference FVResign was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Former Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama sentenced to year in jail". Yahoo News. 9 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference RNZ2024a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Bainimarama sentenced to 1 year in prison while Qiliho sentenced to 2 years imprisonment". Fiji Village. 9 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  9. ^ McGuirk, Rod (9 May 2024). "Fiji's ex-leader, Frank Bainimarama, sentenced to prison for interfering in police investigation". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.