Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa (born 1957)[1] is a Samoan politician and High Chiefess (matai). Mataʻafa is the first female Prime Minister of Samoa, after winning a majority in the 2021 general election.[2] She is the leader of the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party. She was Samoa's first female Cabinet Minister, and from 2016 to 2020 was Samoa's first female Deputy Prime Minister.
The Honourable Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa in 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7th Prime Minister of Samoa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 24 May 2021[a] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| O le Ao o le Malo | Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of Faokinaatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 9 March 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Laauli Leuatea Polataivao | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Laauli Leuatea Polataivao | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 19 March 2016 – 11 September 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio (2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of the Samoan Parliament for Lotofaga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 22 February 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Asiasiau Sausoo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Naomi Mataʻafa 29 April 1957 Apia, Western Samoa Trust Territory (now Samoa) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (2021–present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | Human Rights Protection Party (before 2020) Independent (2020–2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Mata ʻ afa Faumuina Mulinu ʻ u II (father) Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata ʻ afa (mother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Victoria University of Wellington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On 24 May 2021, Mataʻafa had herself sworn in as Prime Minister of Samoa, while the incumbent, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, did not want to say he lost.[3] This has caused her leadership to be disputed.[4] The crisis was resolved by Samoa's Court of Appeal on 23 July 2021, which ruled that Mataʻafa had been prime minister since 24 May.[5][6][7]
Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa Media
Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa speaking at the Advancing Gender Justice Programme BRIDGE training workshop, in Samoa, 19 January 2014
Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa (standing, far left) at a meeting of Pacific Islands leaders with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (center), in Samoa, 26 July 2008
Fiamē with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in 2022
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Notes
References
- ↑ "Hon. Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa". RNZ. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ↑ "Fiame Naomi Mataafa: Samoa set to appoint first female PM". AlJazerra. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ↑ Samoa incumbent leader rejects first female Prime Minister's swearing in as 'treason'. 24 May 2021. https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/443274/samoa-incumbent-leader-rejects-first-female-prime-minister-s-swearing-in-as-treason. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ↑ How Samoa’s political crisis unfolded. 24 May 2021. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/how-samoas-political-crisis-unfolded-2021-05-24/. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ↑ Faa, Marian; Fennell, Jordan (23 July 2021). "Samoa welcomes first female Prime Minister following court ruling, but not without challenges" (in en-AU). ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-23/samoa-first-female-prime-minister-court-decision-fiame/100319278. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ↑ "Samoa's political crisis ends and first female prime minister installed after court ruling" (in en). The Guardian. 23 July 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/23/samoas-political-crisis-ends-and-first-female-prime-minister-installed-after-court-ruling. Retrieved 25 July 2021.