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, 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
Incumbent
Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
since 8 October 2019
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
StatusForeign Minister
AbbreviationFM
Member ofCabinet of Tonga, Legislative Assembly of Tonga
SeatNukuʻalofa
NominatorPrime Minister of Tonga
AppointerKing of Tonga
Term lengthNo term limit
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Tonga
Inaugural holderFatafehi Tuʻipelehake
Formation4 June 1970
Politics of Tonga
Constitution
Monarchy
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, since 8 October 2019.[1]

Description of the office

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.

Along with all ministers, the Foreign Minister is constitutionally required to be a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Colour key
Political parties
  •   Human Rights and Democracy Movement
  •   Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Other factions

List of ministers

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)
[lower-alpha 1]		 1979–1998
— Baron Siaosi Tuʻihala ʻAlipate Vaea Tupou
(1921–2009)
Acting Minister		 1998
3 Prince ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
(b. 1959)
[lower-alpha 2]		 1998–2004
4 Sonatane Tuʻakinamolahi Taumopeau Tupou, Lord Taumoepeau-Tupou of Toula and Kotu
(1943–2013)		 2004–2009
5 Feleti Sevele
(b. 1944)		 2009–2010
6 Siale ʻAtaongo Kaho, Lord Tuʻivakanō
(b. 1952)		 2011–2014
7 ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
(1941–2019)		 2014–2017
8 Siaosi Sovaleni
(b. 1970)		 2017–2018
(7) ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
(1941–2019)		 2018–2019
— Semisi Sika
(b. 1968)
Acting Minister		 2019
9 Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
(b. 1961)		 2019–present

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

References
  1. "Tonga MPs choose Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa as Prime Minister". TVNZ. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  2. "Foreign ministers S-Z". rulers.org. B. Schemmel. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
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