List of heads of state of Fiji

This article lists the heads of state of Fiji, from the establishment of the Kingdom of Fiji in 1871 to the present day.

Tui Viti (King of Fiji) (1871–1874)

Note that Cakobau had been the Vunivalu (Warlord/Paramount Chief) of Bau since 1852. He had long styled himself the Tui Viti (King of Fiji), but had not been recognized as such by other chiefs, and he exercised no direct authority outside his domain of Bau until he united the country under his leadership in 1871. His ancestors, going back as far as 1770, have often – erroneously – been listed as "Kings" of Fiji.

British period (1874–1970)

On 10 October 1874, Cakobau signed the Deed of Cession, that granted the British Empire sovereignty over the islands in 1874. From 1874 to 1970, the British Monarch was Fiji's formal head of state.

Queen of Fiji (1970–1987)

In 1970, Fiji became an independent realm of the Commonwealth, and Queen Elizabeth II, assumed the role of Queen of Fiji.

†Ousted following military coup and proclamation of Republic.

Governors-General (1970–1987)

The Queen of Fiji was represented by a governor-general, who acted on the advice of the Fijian government.

Governor-General of Fiji
No. Name
(Birth–Death)
Portrait Tenure Monarch
Took office Left office
Dominion of Fiji
1. Sir Robert Sidney Foster
(1913–2005)
10 October 1970 13 January 1973

Elizabeth II

2. Ratu Sir George Cakobau
(1912–1989)
13 January 1973 12 February 1983
3. Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau
(1918–1993)
12 February 1983 6 October 1987

Presidents (1987–present)

Fiji was proclaimed a republic on 7 October 1987, upon the abdication of Queen Elizabeth II following two military coups. Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka, who had masterminded the coups, formed an interim administration, exercising the powers of the presidency but without taking the title, styling himself Head of the Interim Military Government instead. On 5 December that year, the last Governor General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, was appointed the first president. Ganilau served as president until 15 December 1993, when he died in office. He was succeeded by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

In the constitutional upheaval of 2000, following the forced resignation of President Mara on 29 May, Commodore Frank Bainimarama styled himself Head of the Interim Military Government (as had Rabuka in 1987), until Ratu Josefa Iloilo was appointed president on 13 July 2000. On 5 December 2006, Commodore Frank Bainimarama deposed the Fijian Government and President Iloilo and again become Head of the Interim Military Government. On 4 January 2007 Iloilo was restored to presidency, and remain president until 30 July 2009, when he retired and Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau become acting president. On 5 November 2009, Nailatikau was sworn in as president.

List of presidents of Fiji

Portrait PresidentTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyElectionPrime minister(s)
Major general
Sitiveni Rabuka
(born 1948)
Acting
Head of the Interim Military Government
7 October 19875 December 198759 days RFMF
Ratu Sir
Penaia Ganilau
(1918–1993)
5 December 198715 December 1993 6 years, 10 days Independent1987Mara
Rabuka
Ratu Sir
Kamisese Mara
(1920–2004)
Acting
16 December 199318 January 199433 days IndependentRabuka
Ratu Sir
Kamisese Mara
(1920–2004)
18 January 199429 May 20006 years, 132 days Independent1994Rabuka
Chaudhry
Momoedonu
Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
(born 1954)
Acting
Head of the Interim Military Government
29 May 200013 July 200045 days RFMFQarase
Ratu
Josefa Iloilo
(1920–2011)
13 July 20005 December 20066 years, 145 days Independent2000
2006
Qarase
Momoedonu
Qarase
Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
(born 1954)
Acting
Head of the Interim Military Government
5 December 20064 January 200730 days RFMFSenilagakali
Ratu
Josefa Iloilo
(1920–2011)
4 January 200730 July 20092 years, 207 days IndependentBainimarama
Ratu Brigadier general (Rtd)
Epeli Nailatikau
(born 1941)
Acting
30 July 20095 November 200998 days IndependentBainimarama
Ratu Brigadier general (Rtd)
Epeli Nailatikau
(born 1941)
5 November 200912 November 20156 years, 7 days Independent2009Bainimarama
Major general (Rtd)
Jioji Konrote
(born 1947)
12 November 201512 November 20216 years FijiFirst2015
2018
Bainimarama
Ratu
Wiliame Katonivere
(born 1964)
12 November 2021Incumbent172 days FijiFirst2021Bainimarama

See also

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