Baron Divavesi Waqa (; born 31 December 1959) is a

Nauru Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies within the Micronesia subregion of Oceania, with its nearest neighbour being Banaba (part of ...

an politician who currently serves as the secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum. He was the

President of Nauru The president of Nauru is elected by Parliament of Nauru, Parliament from among its members, and is both the head of state and the head of government of Nauru. Nauru's unicameral Parliament has 19 members, with an electoral term of three years. ...

from 11 June 2013 until 27 August 2019. He previously served as Minister of Education from 2004 to 2007.

Background

Waqa was born on 31 December 1959. He is a member of the Eamwidamwit tribe. Waqa has a master's degree from

Monash University Monash University () is a public university, public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. Named after World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the ...

, Clayton, Australia, and a bachelor's degree from the

University of the South Pacific The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. Established in 1968, the university is organised as an intergovernmental organisation and is owned by the gov ...

in Suva, Fiji.

Political role

Waqa was elected in the May 2003 elections to the

Parliament of Nauru The Parliament of Nauru has 19 members, elected for a three-year term in multi-seat constituencies. The President of Nauru is elected by the members of the Parliament.

, representing the constituency of Boe. Under President Ludwig Scotty, he served as Minister of the Interior and of Education; however, he had to leave the post upon Scotty's replacement by

René Harris René Reynaldo Harris (11 November 1947 – 5 July 2008) was President of the Republic of Nauru four times between 1999 and 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 2008.Kieren Keke,

David Adeang David Ranibok Waiau Adeang (born 24 November 1969) is a Nauruan politician, currently serving as President of Nauru. Adeang is the former Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru, and Nauru's Minister of Finance and Justice, as well as the Minist ...

and Fabian Ribauw participated in protests at the

Nauru International Airport Nauru International Airport is the sole airport in the island nation of Republic of Nauru in the Central Pacific. The airport provides service to other island nations via the national airline, Nauru Airlines. History The original airstrip ...

in Yaren; these were meant to show displeasure regarding government policy against

Afghan Afghan or Afgan may refer to: Related to Afghanistan *Afghans, historically refers to the Pashtun people. It is both an ethnicity and nationality. Ethnicity wise, it refers to the Pashtuns. In modern terms, it means both the citizens of Afghanist ...

asylum-seekers in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

and the Flotilla of Hope, as well as against the deadlock then encountered in Parliament. All four faced up to fourteen years in jail because of their participation in the protest; charges were dropped, however, upon Scotty's re-ascension the following June. Scotty once again appointed Waqa to be Minister of Education. Waqa remained loyal to his administration during the ministerial crisis which occurred in 2007. Consequently, Waqa was not invited to serve in the subsequent administration of President

Marcus Stephen Marcus Ajemada Stephen (born 1 October 1969) is a Nauruan politician and former sportsperson who previously was a member of the Cabinet of Nauru, and who served as President of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. The son of Nauruan par ...

which later took office. Waqa was elected president in June 2013, defeating former Finance Minister and opposition nominee

Roland Kun Roland Tullen Kun (born 6 May 1970) is a Nauruan politician and Member of Parliament. Political career MP and Minister Kun was elected in 2004 to serve as a Member of the Parliament of Nauru and served as Minister of Justice. Kun was elected ...

by a vote of 13 to 5. He was chosen by the government faction after President Dabwido stepped aside to allow for Waqa's election so that government members could remain in power. In January 2014, he survived a

vote of confidence A motion or vote of no confidence (or the inverse, a motion or vote of confidence) is a motion and corresponding vote thereon in a deliberative assembly (usually a legislative body) as to whether an officer (typically an executive) is deemed fit ...

over his deportation of the Australian resident magistrate Peter Law and the cancelling of the visa of the Chief Justice Geoffrey Eames, also an Australian national. The government also sought to draft an emergency rule law with the help of Fijian lawyers. It followed the dismissal of the parliamentary counsel Katy Le Roy and the subsequent resignation of the Solicitor-General Steven Bliim, both of whom were Australian. Home Minister

Charmaine Scotty Charmaine Eraidinomo Scotty
, Pacific Women in Politics, 9 ...

said this was symptomatic of a "system of cronyism" operated by Australian expatriates who he said were in league with the opposition. In the 2019 election, he lost his parliamentary seat and bid to be re-elected to the office. In 2023, Waqa was appointed to lead the

Pacific Islands Forum The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organisation that aims to enhance cooperation among countries and territories of Oceania, including formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations. It was founded in 197 ...

starting in 2024. His term began on 3 June 2024.

Honours and awards

*: ** Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Jade (March 2019)

Personal life

He is married to Louisa Waqa. They have adopted one child together, named Barron Stephenson.

References

External links