48 Facts About Frank Bainimarama

Frank Bainimarama joined the Fijian Navy in 1975 and rose through the ranks, becoming an able seaman and a midshipman in 1976, an ensign in 1977, and later promoted to a sub-lieutenant at the end of that year.

Frank Bainimarama was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1986 and became a commander in 1988.

Frank Bainimarama relinquished command of the military in 2014, and in recognition of his military service, he was promoted to rear admiral.

Frank Bainimarama instigated the 2006 coup, removing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power.

Frank Bainimarama later restored Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president and himself as prime minister in 2007.

Frank Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014 and formed a party named FijiFirst.

Frank Bainimarama was succeeded by the leader of the 1987 Fijian coups d'etat, Sitiveni Rabuka.

Frank Bainimarama resigned from Parliament and as the leader of the opposition in March 2023.

Frank Bainimarama has received a number of honours for his service.

Frank Bainimarama has been made an Officer Brother in the Order of St John of Jerusalem, and has received the Meritorious Service Decoration, the Peacekeeping Medal for United Nations peacekeepers, the General Service Medal, the Fiji Republic Medal, and the 25 Anniversary Medal.

In January 1979, Frank Bainimarama embarked on the Chilean naval training ship, the Buque Escuela Esmeralda, which spent six months circumnavigating South America.

Frank Bainimarama went on to command HMFS Kula, and spent four months in 1984 in the markings of the Exclusive Economic Zones of Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati.

Frank Bainimarama took charge of the delivery of two naval ships, the Levuka and Lautoka, from Louisiana in the United States.

Frank Bainimarama became commanding officer of the Fijian Navy in April 1988, and was promoted to the rank of commander on 4 October that year.

Frank Bainimarama held this post for the next nine years.

Frank Bainimarama underwent further training at the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College in 1991 and at the Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre at RAAF Williamtown, Newcastle, New South Wales, where he studied Maritime Surveillance Training.

Frank Bainimarama attended the Integrated Logistics Support Overview course of the Australian Defence Co-operation Program on 23 September 1996, and the Chief of Army Conferences in Singapore in 1998 and 1999, as well as the Chief of Defence Conference in Hawaii.

Frank Bainimarama was appointed as the acting chief of staff on 10 November 1997, and was confirmed in this post on 18 April 1998.

Frank Bainimarama relinquished command on 5 March 2014, to Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga.

Frank Bainimarama was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on his retirement in recognition of his military service.

The government later reneged on the last part of the agreement and arrested Speight on 27 July 2000, with Frank Bainimarama saying that he had signed that part of the accord "under duress".

Frank Bainimarama attended a Leadership and Change Management course with the Public Service Training and Development program in February 2002, and a Policy Planning Analysis and Management course at the University of the South Pacific in Suva the following month.

On 4 September 2003, Frank Bainimarama attended the Pacific Armies Management Seminar XXVII in Seoul, South Korea, and went on to attend the PKO Capacity Building Seminar in the Philippine capital of Manila.

On 14 December 2005, Frank Bainimarama began an official visit to China, at the invitation of the People's Liberation Army.

On 31 October 2006, while Frank Bainimarama was in Egypt visiting Fijian forces on peacekeeping duties in the Middle East, President Iloilo moved to terminate the appointment of Frank Bainimarama, appointing instead Lieutenant Colonel Meli Saubulinayau who declined to take the position.

In late November 2006, Frank Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase, one of which was the withdrawal of three controversial bills, including the Qoliqoli Bill and the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which would have offered conditional pardons to persons convicted of involvement in the 2000 coup.

Frank Bainimarama refused further concessions, saying that he had conceded all that was possible within the law.

On 6 September 2007, Frank Bainimarama imposed a renewed state of emergency for one month, alleging that deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his spokesman were spreading lies and attempting to cause destabilisation, following Qarase's return to Suva after having been confined to the island of Vanua Balavu since his ouster.

Frank Bainimarama said that Qarase and his spokesman should return to Vanuabalavu and that they could "talk from there".

Frank Bainimarama became acting Minister of Finance on 18 August 2008 after Chaudhry and the other Labour Party ministers withdrew from the interim government.

Frank Bainimarama stated that his main reasons for overthrowing the Qarase government were that it was corrupt, and that it was conducting racially discriminatory policies against the country's Indo-Fijian minority.

Frank Bainimarama added that "the passing of the Reconciliation, Qoliqoli and Land Claims [Bills] will undermine the Constitution, will deprive many citizens of their rights as guaranteed under the Constitution and compromise and undermine the integrity of the Constitutional Offices including the Judiciary".

Frank Bainimarama explained that he would amend the race-based electoral rolls, so as to "lead us into peace and prosperity and mend the ever widening racial divide that currently besets our multicultural nation".

Frank Bainimarama stepped down on 10 April 2009 as interim prime minister.

Frank Bainimarama reappointed Commodore Frank Bainimarama as prime minister only 24 hours later.

On 3 November 2009, Frank Bainimarama banished the envoys of Australia and New Zealand giving them 24 hours to leave the country.

In September 2011, the Frank Bainimarama government introduced a decree severely curtailing labour rights, so as to "ensure the present and continued viability and sustainability of essential national industries".

Frank Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014, and formed a party named FijiFirst.

Frank Bainimarama was succeeded by Sitiveni Rabuka on 24 December 2022.

Frank Bainimarama has been described by some as a dictator or an authoritarian, although he denies these claims.

On 17 February 2023, Frank Bainimarama was suspended from parliament for three years after making disparaging references to President Wiliame Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, as well as making treasonous comments in breach of standing orders.

On 8 March 2023 Frank Bainimarama resigned from Parliament and as leader of the opposition.

On 9 March 2023 Frank Bainimarama was charged with abuse of office over allegations he and police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho interfered with an investigation into financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific.

On 14 March 2024 the High Court of Fiji overturned the acquittal and convicted Frank Bainimarama of attempting to pervert the course of justice and Qiliho of abuse of office.

Frank Bainimarama is the brother of Ratu Meli Bainimarama and Ratu Timoci Bainimarama, both senior civil servants.

Frank Bainimarama was Roman Catholic-educated and graduated from Marist Brothers High School in Suva.

Frank Bainimarama is married to Maria Makitalena; they have six children.

Frank Bainimarama is a sports enthusiast, with a particular passion for rugby union and athletics; he became president of the Fiji Rugby Union on 31 May 2014.