Fiji Takes Over MSG Chairmanship at 23rd Leaders’ Summit

Fiji has officially assumed the Chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), hosting the 23rd Leaders’ Summit at the Great Council of Chiefs Complex in Suva.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka called it an honour to lead the Melanesian bloc and thanked Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat for his leadership over the past two years, especially through recent natural disasters.

“We build on the hard work that came before us,” Rabuka said. “Let us stand united in our hope for a peaceful and prosperous Melanesia.”

PM Napat described the handover as both symbolic and historic, noting that it was Rabuka who led Fiji into the MSG in 1997.

“Like a seasoned captain returning to the helm, you take the wheel once more,” he said. “This is not just a position—it is a legacy of shared destiny.”

The event brought together leaders from Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia’s FLNKS, and officials from Indonesia and Australia.

The ceremony included a traditional Melanesian welcome, followed by a leaders’ retreat.