Sitiveni Rabuka

Prime Minister of Fiji

13 September 1948 Cakaudrove, Fiji

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2 June 1992 – 19 May 1999

Former Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, (Fijian pronunciation:  ; born 13 September 1948) is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected as Prime Minister of Fiji, serving from 1992 to 1999. He went on to serve as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, and later served as Chairman of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council from 2001 to 2008. He was elected to this position on 24 May 2001 and re-elected for another three-year term on 13 April 2005. On 24 June 2016, Rabuka was elected as leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party, succeeding Leader of the Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa, who publicly disapproved of Rabuka's nomination to replace her. On 26 November 2018, Rabuka was appointed as the leader of the Opposition to Parliament, following the 2018 election defeat. Rabuka was the only nomination for the position and his nomination was moved by Ro Teimumu Kepa and seconded by Biman Prasad. On 28 November 2020 he was ousted as SODELPA leader by Viliame Gavoka in a leadership contest. On 7 December 2020 Rabuka had resigned from parliament citing that he will no longer be an obstacle to the bipartisan approach to be taken by the leaders of Fiji to create harmony and progress and unity in Fiji.