Wikipedia

Minister of Foreign Affairs (Tonga)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Tonga is a cabinet minister in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tonga. It is responsible for conducting foreign relations of the country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Kingdom of Tonga
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Tonga
Flag of Tonga
since 28 December 2021
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
StatusForeign Minister
AbbreviationFM
Member of
SeatNukuʻalofa
NominatorPrime Minister of Tonga
AppointerKing of Tonga
Term lengthNo term limit
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Tonga
Inaugural holderFatafehi Tuʻipelehake
Formation4 June 1970

The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu, who has served since 28 December 2021.[1]

Description of the office

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Like other ministers, the Foreign Minister is formally appointed by the King on the nomination of the Prime Minister, and is responsible to both the Prime Minister and the Legislative Assembly. The position may be held independently, or in conjunction with other ministerial responsibilities. From time to time, the Prime Minister has simultaneously served as Foreign Minister.

List of ministers

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Political parties
  Human Rights and Democracy Movement
  Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Other factions
  Independent
Symbols
  Denotes acting Minister

† Died in office

The following is a list of foreign ministers of Tonga since the country gained independence in 1970:[2]

No. Name
(Birth–Death) 		Portrait Tenure
1 Prince Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake
(1922–1999) 		  1970–1979
2 Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa
(1948–2012)
[a] 		  1979–1998
— Baron Vaea
(1921–2009)
Acting 		  1998
3 Prince ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
(born 1959)
[b] 		  1998–2004
4 Lord Taumoepeau-Tupou of Toula and Kotu
(1943–2013) 		  2004–2009
5 Lord Sevele of Vailahi
(born 1944) 		  2009–2010
6 Lord Tuʻivakanō
(born 1952) 		  2011–2014
7 ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
(1941–2019) 		  2014–2017
8 Siaosi Sovaleni
(born 1970) 		  2017–2018
(7) ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
(1941–2019) 		  2018–2019†
— Semisi Sika
(born 1968)
Acting 		  2019
9 Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
(1951–2023) 		  2019–2021
10 Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu
(born 1959) 		  2021–present

Notes

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  1. ^ Later King George Tupou V.
  2. ^ Later King Tupou VI.

References

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  1. ^ "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Foreign ministers S-Z". rulers.org. B. Schemmel. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
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