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The long-standing animosity of the most populous Malaita island toward the central government on the Guadalcanal island escalated in 2019 when the Sogavare government switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
Tensions rose further as the country plunged into the pandemic crisis and Malaita people accused the government of neglect and failure to curb unemployment. Earlier this week, thousands of people, many of whom travelled from Malaita, tried to storm Sogavare's residence in Honiara and demanded him to resign. Over 100 people were arrested.
People stand amid debris in front of a burned-out building after days of unrest in Honiara, Solomon Islands November 26, 2021.
© REUTERS / STRINGER
According to Solomon Times, Wale reached out to several members of Parliament in search for a solution to the riots. The opposition leader also asked people who were involved in violence to stop.
Wale thanked the police commissioner who had done everything in his power to calm down the protests, as well as the Australian government, which sent troops to the islands that supported the police.
Sogavare blames foreign powers for the unrest.