Solomon Islands head to the polls as PM Sogavare seeks unprecedented run

The tiny Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands will be holding elections on Wednesday, but what is at stake is a lot more than just a potential change in leadership. China and the US will be watching closely to see who will be gaining power over the more than 900 islands making up the Solomon Islands – as both seek to expand their influence in the South Pacific. Current Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, a 69-year-old karate blackbelt who will be seeking an unprecedented second consecutive term, switched the Solomons’ allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing back in 2019. He then shocked…