APIA – Samoa’s first female prime minister (PM) has been sworn into office in a tent after she was locked out of parliament by her opponent, who has refused to step down.
Fiame Naomi Mata’afa took the oath of office in a marquee in the parliament’s gardens, leaving uncertainty over who controls the Pacific island nation.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who has been the PM for 22 years, has ignored a court order to step down.
The 64-year-old Mata’afa, arrived at parliament on Monday expecting to be sworn in.
But the former deputy prime minister, who arrived alongside the country’s chief justice, found herself barred from the building, which was locked by allies of Malielegaoi in advance of her arrival.(BBC)
