Minister of Foreign Affairs (Tonga)

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Kingdom of Tonga
Coat of arms of Tonga.svg
Flag of Tonga.svg
Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu - 2017 (36374935674) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu
since 28 December 2021
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Status Foreign Minister
AbbreviationFM
Member of
Seat Nukuʻalofa
Nominator Prime Minister of Tonga
Appointer King of Tonga
Term length No term limit
Constituting instrument Constitution of Tonga
Inaugural holder Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake
Formation4 June 1970

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Tonga is a cabinet minister in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tonga. It is responsible for conducting foreign relations of the country.

Contents

The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu, who has served since 28 December 2021. [1]

Description of the office

Like other ministers, the Foreign Minister is formally appointed by the King on the nomination of the Prime Minister, and is responsible to both the Prime Minister and the Legislative Assembly. The position may be held independently, or in conjunction with other ministerial responsibilities. From time to time, the Prime Minister has simultaneously served as Foreign Minister.

List of ministers

Political parties
   Human Rights and Democracy Movement
   Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Other factions
   Independent
Symbols
  Denotes acting Minister

† Died in office

The following is a list of foreign ministers of Tonga since the country gained independence in 1970: [2]

No.Name
(Birth–Death)
PortraitTenure
1 Prince Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake
(1922–1999)
Prince Tu'ipelehake (cropped).png 1970–1979
2 Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa
(1948–2012)
[lower-alpha 1]
George Tupou V of Tonga, 2011 (cropped).jpg 1979–1998
Baron Vaea
(1921–2009)
Acting
ST` Vaea.jpg 1998
3 Prince ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
(born 1959)
[lower-alpha 2]
Ulukalala Lavaka Ata.jpg 1998–2004
4 Lord Taumoepeau-Tupou of Toula and Kotu
(1943–2013)
Lord Taumoepeau-Tupou wedding 2.1.jpg 2004–2009
5 Lord Sevele of Vailahi
(born 1944)
Feleti.jpg 2009–2010
6 Lord Tuʻivakanō
(born 1952)
Siale`ataongo Tu`ivakano 2014.jpg 2011–2014
7 ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
(1941–2019)
Akilisi Pohiva ITU 2016.jpg 2014–2017
8 Siaosi Sovaleni
(born 1970)
Siaosi Sovaleni ITU 2017.jpg 2017–2018
(7) ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
(1941–2019)
Akilisi Pohiva ITU 2016.jpg 2018–2019†
Semisi Sika
(born 1968)
Acting
Semisi Sika May 2019.jpg 2019
9 Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
(1951–2023)
Pohiva Tu`i`onetoa (cropped).jpg 2019–2021
10 Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu
(born 1959)
Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu - 2017 (36374935674) (cropped).jpg 2021–present

Notes

  1. Later King George Tupou V.
  2. Later King Tupou VI.

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References

  1. "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  2. "Foreign ministers S-Z". rulers.org. B. Schemmel. Retrieved 16 January 2015.