Solomon Islands
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : none
Country name - conventional short form : Solomon Islands
Country name - local long form : none
Country name - local short form : Solomon Islands
Country name - former : British Solomon Islands
Government type : parliamentary democracy
Capital - name : Honiara
Capital - time difference : UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Population : 581,318 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Solomon Islander(s)
Nationality - adjective : Solomon Islander
Languages : Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English (official; but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population); 120 indigenous languages
Currency (code) : Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)
Currency code : SBD
Solomon Islands is located Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea. The climate is tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather. The terrain is mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
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