MSG, "THE POWERHOUSE OF THE SUBREGION"

SUVA, FIJI (18 July 2025): The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) could be the powerhouse of the region as a platform to advance issues of national interest for Melanesia.

This was agreed at a recent discussion between the MSG Secretariat led by the Acting Director General, Ilan Kiloe, and Fiji’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Permanent Secretary, Dr Raijeli Taga.

PS Dr Taga said the MSG, being resource-rich in terms of population, land mass and natural resources can be very effective “if all of MSG’s constituent body meetings in arts & culture, trade, environment, sports and security, among others, are coordinated well.

“It (MSG) is already a powerhouse but we need to better plan and coordinate properly if we are to see issues from these meetings advanced into the PIFS system and elevated to a level where instructions can be made and actions taken,” she said.

Dr Taga stated, “there is a lot of responsibility on us to advance these initiatives further and use MSG to our advantage”.

“In doing so we can provide the opportunities for the other groups in the region and we must proceed to implement some of the outcomes by the Leaders.

“Fiji’s intent is not to go with the flow but to grow the MSG,” she added.

Acting Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Ilan Kiloe, firstly congratulated Fiji’s chairmanship, adding that he fully concurred with the directions which the Chair is ready to take. 

“Indeed, MSG is a strength in the Pacific and we must ensure that what we are doing fits into the ambitions of the wider Pacific,” ADG Kiloe said.  

He suggested that the MSG look at areas which it is able to influence and advance for instance climate change, since the MSG participated at the ICJ, amplifying the Pacific’s call for climate justice during the ICJAO proceedings on Climate Change.

ADG Kiloe said another area the MSG could take the lead on is Security, considering that Melanesia’s instability is dominated by ethnic conflicts and tribal wars, hence the need for a specifically designed strategy just for Melanesia.

The MSG Security Strategy, following the green light from Leaders last month, is expected to be endorsed at the upcoming MSG Police Minister’s Meeting this September.

The MSG Secretariat will also identify issues to update the Chair, prior to the upcoming Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara.

Caption: Fiji's Permanent Secretary Foreign Affairs, Dr Raijeli Taga & Acting Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Ilan Kiloe, with members of their respective teams.

Part 2: Clan Names Know No Borders: How Ancestry Links Us Across Countries

Part 2: Clan Names Know No Borders: How Ancestry Links Us Across Countries

In a world where colonial borders divided us and surnames were lost in translation, our clan names remained the one unshaken bridge — connecting people across provinces, countries, and even cultures. You may carry a South African ID and speak isiZulu or Xitsonga, but your clan name might echo through Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and beyond. In truth, your clan name doesn’t just say where you're from — it says where you’ve been.

Take the story of Soshangane kaZikode, for example — a name that lives in the praises of many people from KwaZulu-Natal to Maputo, from Giyani to Harare. Soshangane was born in the Ndwandwe kingdom in northern KZN, but after conflicts with, he crossed the borders into Mozambique and established the powerful Gaza Empire. Today, thousands of people in Mozambique and Zimbabwe carry clan praises that mention Zikode, Ndwandwe, and Soshangane — not knowing that these names are part of the very soil and story of KwaZulu-Natal.

This is not just Soshangane’s story. It’s ours too. Many African surnames and clan praises are not confined to one place. They are nomadic, tied to movements of survival, war, and migration. For example:

A person with the Mthethwa clan name in KZN might find distant relatives in Swaziland (Eswatini) and parts of Mozambique, because the Mthethwa were once a vast confederation that predated even the Zulu kingdom.

Someone with the Gasa or Mbatha clan name might find connections among the Zulu, Swazi, and even Tsonga-Shangaan people.

The Ngwenya, Dlamini, Zungu, or Mabuza clan names appear across South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique because these families didn’t always recognize borders. They moved where life pushed them — and they took their clan names with them.

What colonialism did was build walls between people who once shared history. It gave us new surnames and foreign systems, and in some cases, stripped us of our clan names. But if you look deeper — in the praise poems of elders, in oral traditions, in the way your grandmother addresses you — you may realize your identity isn’t as “local” as you think. You may be Zulu by nationality, but Ndwandwe by blood. You may speak Shona, but your great-grandfather was Nguni.

Our clan names speak of rivers crossed, lands conquered, wild animals subdued, spirits encountered, and kingdoms built. They are not just poetic flattery — they are ancient records of migration, of survival, of identity.

Even today, when someone begins their praises with:

Zikode kaNdabansele,

Soshangane, Maphenyane, Gaza!

…you are hearing more than just a chant. You are hearing the footsteps of a nation that walked from KZN to the Indian Ocean, building an empire as they went.

Why It Matters

In a time where identity is often reduced to race, language, or location, clan names remind us of something deeper: lineage. Not just where you're born, but where you belong. And that belonging often goes beyond the modern-day map.

So the next time someone asks, “Ubungubani?” — don’t stop at your surname. Go further. Speak your clan name. Ask your elders. Follow the praise lines. You may discover you have roots in places you’ve never set foot in — but that live in your blood.

Because you stand as one, but you come as a thousand.

And those thousand stretch far beyond your village or country.

Your clan name knows no borders — and neither should your sense of identity.

ICJ to deliver climate ruling July 23, Vanuatu awaits legal turning point

July 23, Vanuatu awaits legal turning point

By Ezra Toara

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced that it will deliver its highly anticipated Advisory Opinion (AO) on the obligations of States in relation to climate change on Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at 3:00pm Central European Summer Time (CEST), during a public sitting at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

According to the Court's official press release, Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court, will deliver the opinion during the session. The sitting will be open to members of the diplomatic corps from participating States and international organisations involved in the proceedings, who will be seated in the Great Hall of Justice. Representatives from non-participating States will follow the proceedings from the Small Hall of Justice.

Following the ICJ’s announcement, the Government of Vanuatu issued a statement through the Office of the Prime Minister, acknowledging the historical importance of the forthcoming opinion in advancing the global response to climate change.

Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat said Vanuatu is awaiting the ruling with anticipation. “We eagerly await the landmark opinion of the world’s highest court on the greatest existential challenge facing our planet: the climate crisis. The AO from the ICJ, which will be issued on July 23 at 3:00pm CEST, is not just a legal milestone—it is a defining moment in the global climate justice movement and a beacon of hope for present and future generations.”

He said that Vanuatu and its fellow Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have long warned of the growing impacts of climate change—rising sea levels, stronger storms, and the mounting cost of inaction. Their advocacy, he added, comes from a deep conviction that justice must prevail and that international law must protect those most at risk.

“This case was born from a spark of hope ignited by Pacific youth who dared to bring the world’s biggest challenge before the world’s highest court, and their call was supported by over 80 nations standing together for climate justice,” said PM Napat.

He referred to recent United Nations data, which recorded 152 extreme weather events in 2024 alone—a number expected to rise with accelerating climate change. While international mechanisms such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement have laid down foundations for action, he said they have not delivered the scale or urgency required.

“We turned to the Court to clarify what international law already requires of States, because relying solely on mechanisms like the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement is not producing the action the world urgently needs,” he said. “We sought confirmation that States’ legal obligations extend to their climate-related actions, especially when those actions cause harm beyond their borders.”

The PM said a favourable AO could affirm States’ long-standing obligations under international law to address climate change, clarify the legal consequences of failure to act, provide courts and negotiators with stronger legal tools, improve access to finance and support for vulnerable nations, and help shift global efforts from promises to accountability.

“I am hopeful for a powerful opinion from the ICJ. It could set the world on a meaningful path to accountability and action,” he said.

Regardless of the outcome, the PM said the process itself had already helped raise the voices of climate-vulnerable nations, increase global awareness, and lay the groundwork for stronger future action.

“This ruling will give us a foundation to build upon and inspire continued efforts to protect our planet,” he said.

Although the ICJ’s AO is non-binding, it is expected to influence international law, climate negotiations, and cooperation well into the future.

ezra@dailypost.vu

MSG AT PACIFIC REGIONAL & NATIONAL SECURITY MEET

SUVA, FIJI (14 July 2025): The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is currently part of the Pacific Regional and National Security Conference at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, a three-day gathering of the region’s security experts, academic, political, business and civil society representatives, including regional and national officials. 

Organised by the Australian National University’s Pacific Security College, the conference was opened by Fiji’s Prime Minister, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa. 

Discussions as part of Pacific Peace, Security and Defence; Climate Security; and Partnerships, in support of the Ocean of Peace concept, included the need for more collaboration within the Blue Pacific, clarity in partnerships to best align support to Pacific priorities, good governance and mutual respect, among others.

The MSG Secretariat is represented by Acting Director General, Ilan Kiloe; Security Advisor, Ilaitia Caginavanua and Media & Communications Officer, Ana Tudrau-Tamani.

SOLOMON ISLANDS JUSTICE & LEGAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR MSG SECRETARIAT

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS (13 July 2025): The Acting Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat, Ilan Kiloe, recently called on the Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, George Ho’oau, in Honiara during a courtesy visit.

It was an opportunity to brief PS Ho’oau on the recent decisions by Leaders, in particular on legal and institutional issues which falls under his portfolio. 

This, following a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Karen Galokale, for briefings on peace and security matters.

The issues PS Ho’oau were briefed on included the Secretariat’s ongoing participation in the ICJ Climate Advisory Opinion Processes, the review of the Agreement Establishing the MSG and Membership guidelines, the process for the appointment of the Director General and institutional policies and regulations of the MSG Secretariat. 

The review of the institutional policies and development of new policies are aimed at strengthening the operations of the MSG Secretariat.

On the process for the appointment of the DG, PS Hoa’au was informed that the Leaders’ have approved for the TROIKA to convene a meeting to consider applications for the Director General and undertake the recruitment process, including the engagement of an Independent Consultant to facilitate future recruitments of the Director General.

The ADG also took the opportunity to update PS Hoa’au on security matters such as the MSG Security Strategy, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the MSG Secretariat’s proposed collaboration with the Pacific Fusion Centre. 

PS Ho’oau congratulated ADG Kiloe on the work done by the Secretariat under his leadership, in its efforts to implement the mandates given by Leaders. 

He also reiterated his full support and that of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, towards the work of the MSG Secretariat. 

ADG was accompanied by the MSG Secretariat’s Media and Communications Officer, Ana Tudrau-Tamani.

Historic Deal Reached on New Caledonia's Political Future

After 10 days of intense negotiations in France, New Caledonia’s pro- and anti-independence parties have signed a landmark agreement establishing a new political status: a “State of New Caledonia” within the French Republic. The deal introduces dual citizenship (New Caledonian and French), gradual transfer of powers, and reforms to the long-disputed electoral roll. A public referendum on the agreement is set for February 2026.

Provincial elections have been postponed to May–June 2026 to allow time for ratification and public consultation.

While political leaders praised the deal as a path to peace and stability, many now look toward the Kanak people’s response in the coming months. Will this agreement meet their long-standing aspirations for self-determination and sovereignty?

We also await the position and role of Pacific leaders—how they will respond to this decision, and how they will carry it forward to ensure that the rights of the Indigenous Kanak people to live free and with dignity are fully upheld, protected, and guaranteed in this new political chapter.

#FreeKanaky #Kanaky #NewCaledonia #KanakyLivesMatters #FLNKS #decolonisation  #politicalKanaky #franceinthepacific

Oksapmin’s Son: From Barefoot Beginnings to Royal Encounters

Who would have imagined that a barefoot boy in Grade One at Oksapmin Primary School in 1978 would one day stand before the King of the Commonwealth nations? From one of the most remote places on earth to one of the most powerful — in just 55 years. It’s a story that few would believe, and even fewer would live.

Born in 1971 in Tari, high in the rugged mountains of Papua New Guinea, the Chief of PNG began life in the heart of isolation. At just two years old, he was carried to the depths of the Western Province, to a place called Nomad River — a remote mission station where modern life had not yet arrived. There was no electricity. No roads. No rice, soap, biscuits, or toys. English was foreign to his ears. He had no shoes. Clothes were reserved for special Sabbath worship days.

When Papua New Guinea gained its independence in 1975, he was four years old — a child of a newborn nation, still untouched by the outside world.

In 1978, he began Grade One at Oksapmin Primary School. His missionary parents had been transferred there, and with no shoes on his feet and no lunch in hand, he sat in class, absorbing the sounds of a new language, driven by curiosity and a quiet determination. He didn’t have much, but what he did have was priceless: faith, love, discipline, and the power of a dream.

He would go on to walk paths no one from his background had ever walked. Through education, faith, and hard work, he rose — not just through the ranks of leadership, but through life itself. From jungle trails to red carpets, from thatched huts to grand halls, he eventually stood face-to-face with presidents, prime ministers, monarchs — even the King himself.

But he never forgot where it began: in Oksapmin, where a little boy with dusty feet and big dreams first opened a schoolbook and imagined a bigger world.

His story is not just about personal triumph — it is a celebration of what is possible. It is about the power of education, the strength of Christian values, and the unshakable belief that no matter where you come from, your destiny is not limited by your beginnings.

This is Oksapmin’s son , a man and leader blessed by God who rose from the remotest corners of PNG to the very heart of global power.

This is Oksapmin’s pride and Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, at his best.