PM to visit Kiribati later this week

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka as the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum will visit Kiribati this Friday to re-engage with the island nation after it’s withdrawal from the forum last year.

Kiribati confirms it will be receiving Rabuka and members of the delegation later this week.

The state visit comes at the request of the Government of Fiji and is part of the newly elected coalition government’s official engagements overseas.

Rabuka is expected to meet Kiribati’s President, Taneti Maamau for bilateral discussions.

Kiribati had said the forum has not adequately addressed the concerns of Micronesian countries who threatened to leave the Pacific Islands Forum in 2021.

All eyes will now be on Rabuka’s visit on whether he can get Kiribati back into the forum.