With no plans to evacuate their citizens from Honiara, the international community is closely monitoring the situation in the Solomon Islands following a week of political unrest.
There’s an air of calm across Honiara this weekend.
Resident Claire Percel puts it down to the arrival of Australian and Papua New Guinea defence forces to help the local police.
She said the reinforcements have “really helped the situation but we’re still nervous”.
“Roadblocks now set up in key locations and I’ve seen them check vehicles. Local businesses have started cleaning up the streets and removing the burnt vehicles.
“I managed to get out of the house today for a grocery shop and visit some family. Was a really good change of scenery. I took my kids with me, was a very difficult conversation trying to explain why this happened,” Percel said.
There was rioting and looting across the capital following a protest at Parliament on Wednesday calling for the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to stand down.
The protesters are angry at their government’s move to establish diplomatic ties with China, after decades of relations with Taiwan. Sogavare has said he will not resign.
The tension escalated on Friday when more than 100 protesters reached Sogavare’s residence, throwing rocks while police with riot shields fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Australia and Papua New Guinea have deployed their defence force personnel to help the local police control rioting anti-government protesters.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Solomons reached out to his government for help. But he added Canberra was monitoring the situation in Honiara.
New Zealand officials are in contact with their citizens in Honiara and are aware that the travel plans of some have been disrupted.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government has not yet received a formal request for assistance from the Solomon Islands government.
“We are not activating evacuation plans at this stage but remain in contact with relevant partners on the ground and are monitoring events closely.
“The New Zealand High Commission is providing Safe Travel advice to New Zealanders in Solomon Islands, including to follow the instructions of local authorities.
“New Zealanders in Solomon Islands should not rely on New Zealand government-assisted departures in an emergency,” the MFAT spokesperson said.