Kiribati to rejoin the Pacific Islands Forum after Rabuka’s visit

The Government of Kiribati has formally reinstated its positive endorsement to rejoin the Pacific Islands Forum this year 2023.

The decision comes following a fruitful, positive, and successful bilateral meeting held between the current Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and the newly elected Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka and the President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau during the Prime Minister’s State Visit to Kiribati earlier this month.

During the state visit, Prime Minister Rabuka also formally delivered an apology by showcasing the traditional Fijian ceremony seeking forgiveness from Kiribati and then followed with a bilateral talk between the two leaders.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Fiji and Kiribati and discussed the restoration of unity in the Blue Pacific family as well as reaffirming the need to collectively work in unity and promote regional cooperation as enshrined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

In July last year, Kiribati withdrew from the regional body after the forum did not adequately address the concerns of Micronesian countries including Kiribati on the nomination of the Forum’s General Secretary, and the dates of the Forum meeting coincided with Kiribati’s National Day celebrations.