Frank Bainimarama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rear Admiral the Honourable
Frank Bainimarama
CF (MIL), OStJ, MSD
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Bainimarama in 2014
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| Prime Minister of Fiji | |
| In office 5 January 2007 – 24 December 2022 |
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| President |
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| Preceded by | Jona Senilagakali |
| Succeeded by | Sitiveni Rabuka |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 24 December 2022 – 8 March 2023 |
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| Prime Minister | Sitiveni Rabuka |
| Preceded by | Naiqama Lalabalavu |
| Succeeded by | Inia Seruiratu |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 16 April 2020 – 24 December 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Inia Seruiratu |
| Succeeded by | Sitiveni Rabuka |
| Leader of FijiFirst | |
| Assumed office 31 March 2014 |
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| Secretary-General | Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| President of Fiji | |
| In office 5 December 2006 – 4 January 2007 |
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| Prime Minister | Jona Senilagakali |
| Preceded by | Josefa Iloilo |
| Succeeded by | Josefa Iloilo |
| In office 29 May 2000 – 13 July 2000 |
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| Prime Minister | Laisenia Qarase |
| Preceded by | Kamisese Mara |
| Succeeded by | Josefa Iloilo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama
27 April 1954 Kiuva, Fiji |
| Political party | FijiFirst |
| Spouse | Maria Makitalena |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Meli Bainimarama (brother) |
| Alma mater | Dalhousie University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Dominion of Fiji (until 1987) Fiji (since 1987) |
| Branch/service |  Republic of Fiji Navy |
| Years of service | 1975–2014 |
| Rank |  Rear admiral |
| ^ a: Acting: 5 January 2007 – 22 September 2014 |
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Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama CF (MIL) OStJ MSD (Fijian: [tʃoˈsɛia βoˈreŋɡe mbɛiniˈmarama]; born 27 April 1954) is a Fijian former politician and naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022.
Education and career
Bainimarama attended Marist Brothers High School, the Asian Institute of Technology and Dalhousie University. He joined the Fijian Navy in 1975 and rose through the ranks, becoming an able seaman and a midshipman in 1976, an ensign in 1977 and later promoted to a sub-lieutenant at the end of that year. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1986 and became a commander in 1988. He later became captain in 1991. In 1997, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. He later became captain in 1991. In 1998, he was promoted to a commodore and later became the commander of the Armed Forces in 1999. In 2000, during a coup attempt, he convinced the President of Fiji to resign and formed an interim military government which negotiated with the coup leaders. The military government was replaced by a civilian one by the end of the year. He relinquished command of the military in 2014, and in recognition of his military service, he was promoted to rear admiral.
Bainimarama instigated the 2006 coup, removing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power. He later restored Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president and himself as prime minister in 2007. Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014, and formed a party named FijiFirst. In the 2014 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a majority and Bainimarama was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Epeli Nailatikau. In the 2018 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won an outright majority, and Bainimarama became prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018. In the 2022 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a plurality but was unable to form a government, meaning Bainimarama ceased to be prime minister after 16 years of rule, making him the second-longest serving Prime Minister of Fiji after Kamisese Mara. He was succeeded by the leader of the 1987 Fijian Coups d'etat, Sitiveni Rabuka.
Bainimarama resigned from Parliament and as leader of the opposition in March 2023. The next day he was charged with abuse of office over allegations he and police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho interfered with an investigation into financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific. On 14 March 2024 the High Court of Fiji convicted him of attempting to pervert the course of justice. On 9 May 2024 he was sentenced to one year in prison.
Personal life
Bainimarama hails from the village of Kiuva in the Kaba Peninsula, Tailevu Province. He is the brother of Ratu Meli Bainimarama and Ratu Timoci Bainimarama, both senior civil servants. He was Roman Catholic-educated and graduated from Marist Brothers High School in Suva. He is married to Maria Makitalena; they have six children and several grandchildren.
Bainimarama is a sports enthusiast, with a particular passion for rugby union and athletics; he became president of the Fiji Rugby Union on 31 May 2014. In January 2022, he underwent heart surgery in Melbourne, Australia. During his recovery, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was named Acting Prime Minister. He returned to Fiji in March 2022.
Bainimarama displays above his office desk portraits of Elizabeth II, former Queen of Fiji, and of her consort, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He has said of himself: "I'm still loyal to the Queen. Many people are in Fiji. One of the things I'd like to do is see her restored as our monarch, to be Queen of Fiji again."
See also
In Spanish: Frank Bainimarama para niños
- Qoliqoli Bill
- People's Charter for Change and Progress
- List of foreign ministers in 2017
- List of current foreign ministers
- Office of the Prime Minister
