Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele was removed from office on Thursday, May 7, 2026, after losing a parliamentary no-confidence vote by 22 to 26, ending his two-year tenure amid deepening political and institutional crises. Parliament adjourned immediately afterward, tasking the Governor General with arranging the election of a new prime minister.

Manele's Government for National Unity and Transformation had been weakened since March, when mass cabinet resignations and the withdrawal of two coalition partners left it fractured. An appeal court had ruled on May 1, 2026, that Manele must convene parliament by May 7 to face the motion, rejecting his attempts to delay the vote for seven weeks. He denounced the court's intervention as 'judicial overreach of the highest order' and criticized the timing, saying he had no time to respond to the allegations.

The opposition coalition, comprising six parties and commanding 27 of 50 seats, accused Manele of weak leadership and favoritism toward business allies. Former Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka, a leading contender to succeed him, cited a lack of transparency in spending on the 2024 Pacific Games and the 2025 Pacific Islands Forum, with no audit reports made public. The International Monetary Fund had flagged governance concerns in March, urging anti-corruption reforms.

The Solomon Islands, a strategically located South Pacific nation of 850,000 people, has drawn international attention due to its close ties with China and significant aid from Australia. Debt to China for infrastructure projects doubled in the past year, according to budget documents. Heavy police presence surrounded parliament on the day of the vote as rival lawmakers arrived in separate buses.

The Governor General will oversee the process to elect a new prime minister, with Parliament expected to reconvene shortly. The court-mandated timeline and political realignment mark a critical juncture for governance in the island nation.