List of heads of state of Fiji

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This article lists the heads of state of Fiji, from the establishment of the Kingdom of Fiji in 1871 to the present day.

Contents

Currently, the head of state of Fiji is the president of the republic, appointed by the Parliament for a three-year term under the terms of the Constitution of 2013. [1]

The current president is Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. He was elected on 31 October 2024, [2] [3] and sworn in on 12 November 2024. [2]

Tui Viti (King of Fiji) (1871–1874)

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Seru Epenisa Cakobau c. 1815 – 1 February 1883
(aged c. 67–68)
5 June 187110 October 1874Son of Tanoa Visawaqa Cakobau, died February 1883, photograph by Francis H. Dufty.jpg

Note that Cakobau had been the Vunivalu (Warlord/Paramount Chief) of Bau since 1852. He had long styled himself the Tui Viti (King of Fiji), but had not been recognised as such by other chiefs, and he exercised no direct authority outside his domain of Bau until he united the country under his leadership in 1871. His ancestors, going back as far as 1770, have often – erroneously – been listed as "kings" of Fiji.

British period (1874–1970)

On 10 October 1874, Cakobau signed the Deed of Cession, that granted the British Empire sovereignty over the islands. From 1874 to 1970, the British monarch was Fiji's formal head of state.

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Victoria (1819-05-24)24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901(1901-01-22) (aged 81)10 October 187422 January 1901 Hanover Queen Victoria by Bassano.jpg
Edward VII (1841-11-09)9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910(1910-05-06) (aged 68)22 January 19016 May 1910Son of Victoria Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Eduard VII.jpg
George V (1865-06-03)3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936(1936-01-20) (aged 70)6 May 191020 January 1936Son of Edward VII Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (until 1917)
Windsor (from 1917)
King George 1923 LCCN2014715558 (cropped).jpg
Edward VIII (1894-06-23)23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972(1972-05-28) (aged 77)20 January 193611 December 1936
( abdicated )
Son of George V Windsor HRH The Prince of Wales No 4 (HS85-10-36416).jpg
George VI (1895-12-14)14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952(1952-02-06) (aged 56)11 December 19366 February 1952Son of George V Windsor King George VI LOC matpc.14736 A (cropped).jpg
Elizabeth II (1926-04-21)21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022(2022-09-08) (aged 96)6 February 195210 October 1970Daughter of George VI Windsor Queen Elizabeth II official portrait for 1959 tour (retouched) (cropped) (3-to-4 aspect ratio).jpg

Governors

The British monarch was represented by a governor, who acted on the advice of the British government.

Queen of Fiji (1970–1987)

Fiji became an independent Commonwealth realm on 10 October 1970, [4] and Elizabeth II assumed the role of Queen of Fiji.

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Elizabeth II (1926-04-21)21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022(2022-09-08) (aged 96)10 October 19706 October 1987
( deposed )
Daughter of George VI Windsor Queen Elizabeth II official portrait for 1959 tour (retouched) (cropped) (3-to-4 aspect ratio).jpg

Governors-general

The Queen of Fiji was represented by a governor-general, who acted on the advice of the Fijian government.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeMonarch
(Reign)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Arms of Fiji.svg Sir Robert Sidney Foster
(1913–2005)
10 October 197013 January 19732 years, 95 days The Queen of New Zealand, 1986 crop.jpg
Elizabeth II
2 George Cakobau (cropped).jpg Ratu Sir George Cakobau
(1912–1989)
13 January 197312 February 198310 years, 30 days
3 Penaia Ganilau (cropped).jpg Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau
(1918–1993)
12 February 19836 October 19874 years, 236 days

Presidents (1987–present)

Fiji was proclaimed a republic on 7 October 1987, [5] upon the deposition of the Fijian monarchy following two military coups.

No.PortraitPresidentTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyElection Prime minister(s)
Sitiveni Rabuka 2020.jpg
Major General
Sitiveni Rabuka
(born 1948)
Acting
Head of the Interim Military Government
7 October 19875 December 198759 days  RFMF
1
Penaia Ganilau (cropped).jpg
Ratu Sir
Penaia Ganilau
(1918–1993)
5 December 198715 December 1993 6 years, 10 days  Independent 1987 Mara
Rabuka
2
Kamisese Mara.jpg
Ratu Sir
Kamisese Mara
(1920–2004)
16 December 1993
Acting until 18 January 1994
29 May 2000 6 years, 165 days  Independent 1994 Rabuka
Chaudhry
Momoedonu
Bainimarama 2014.jpg
Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
(born 1954)
Acting
Head of the Interim Military Government
29 May 200013 July 200045 days  RFMF Qarase
3
Josefa Iloilo.jpg
Ratu
Josefa Iloilo
(1920–2011)
13 July 20005 December 20066 years, 145 days  Independent 2000
2006
Qarase
Momoedonu
Qarase
Bainimarama 2014.jpg
Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
(born 1954)
Acting
Head of the Interim Military Government
5 December 20064 January 200730 days  RFMF Senilagakali
(3)
Josefa Iloilo.jpg
Ratu
Josefa Iloilo
(1920–2011)
4 January 200730 July 20092 years, 207 days  Independent Bainimarama
4
Epeli Nailatikau 2012.jpg
Ratu Brigadier General (Rtd)
Epeli Nailatikau
(born 1941)
30 July 2009
Acting until 5 November 2009
12 November 20156 years, 105 days  Independent 2009 Bainimarama
5
Jioji Konrote 2017.jpg
Major General (Rtd)
Jioji Konrote
(born 1947)
12 November 201512 November 20216 years  FijiFirst 2015
2018
Bainimarama
6
Wiliame Katonivere 2022.jpg
Ratu
Wiliame Katonivere
(born 1964)
12 November 202112 November 20243 years  FijiFirst 2021 Bainimarama
Rabuka
7
Naiqama Lalabalavu March 2023 (cropped) 2.jpg
Ratu
Naiqama Lalabalavu
(born 1953)
12 November 2024Incumbent107 days  People's Alliance 2024 Rabuka

Timeline

Naiqama LalabalavuWiliame KatonivereJioji KonroteEpeli NailatikauJosefa IloiloFrank BainimaramaKamisese MaraSitiveni RabukaPenaia GanilauGeorge CakobauRobert Sidney FosterElizabeth IIGeorge VIEdward VIIIGeorge VEdward VIIQueen VictoriaSeru Epenisa CakobauList of heads of state of Fiji

See also

References

  1. "Constitution of the Republic of Fiji" (PDF). 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 Apenisa Waqairadovu (31 October 2024). "Ratu Naiqama appointed President". FBC News. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  3. "Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is new President of Fiji after getting 37 votes in parliament". Fiji Village. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  4. Robert Trumbull (10 October 1970). "Fiji Raises the Flag of Independence After 96 Years of Rule by British". New York Times. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  5. "FIJI COUP LEADER DECLARES REPUBLIC". New York Times. Associated Press. 7 October 1987. Retrieved 13 August 2022.