Pro-China Local Leader Ousted in Solomon Islands Election: Early Results

An electoral officer prepares ballot boxes prior to start vote counting in Honiara, capital city of the Solomon Islands, on April 18, 2024, a day after the general elections. Saeed KHAN / AFP

Beijing’s bid to build influence across the Solomon Islands hit a major snag Friday, with the pro-China premier of the Pacific nation’s most populous province set to lose his seat in country-wide elections.

Malaita premier Martin Fini, who has overseen the swift expansion of Chinese interests in the province, lost his re-election bid, according to provisional results reported by the Solomon Islands’ public broadcaster.

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