The leaders of the nations of Micronesia; FSM, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, and RMI, have signed a communique expressing their intentions to withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in response to the failure of the organization to rotate leadership within the sub-regions and appoint the Micronesian nominee, Gerald Zackios. Instead, Henry Puna, former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, was elected Secretary General.
Alongside the recent deportation of USP's Vice Chancellor by the Fiji Government, disruption at the highest levels in these regional organizations is raising questions around fundamental reform and pathways forward.
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