Over 100 People Arrested in Solomon Islands After Riots in Honiara, Police Say

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - More than 100 people have been arrested in the Solomon Islands after a wave of riots in the capital of Honiara, police said on Saturday.

The civil unrest in the Solomon Islands started on Wednesday with disturbance in Honiara and demands for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's resignation. The government of Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands opposed the decision of the country's central government to develop ties with China instead of Taiwan. The Solomon Islands requested the Australian government to assist in tackling the unrest.

"The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have arrested more than hundred suspects in relation to the current protest, riot and looting in Honiara," police said in a statement.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau called on people to stop the unrest.

"Please stop the looting and burning of infrastructures. Nothing will benefit you with such activities," Mangau added.

Solomon Islands: Buildings were set on fire and shops looted in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, on the third day of riots Australia started to deploy a peacekeeping force pic.twitter.com/JsYJz8y1Hs

— worldnews24u (@worldnews24u) November 26, 2021

Pics from #Facebook telling a sad story for #Honiara. BSP bank branch in Ranadi, Island Enterprise, Chinatown shops + others burnt down. No talk yet from government #PM @Jnr_Muria 🙇‍♀️🤷‍♀️ what are we waiting for? 🥺🥺 The whole city to burn down? pic.twitter.com/TxXPOQnmjz

— Georgina Kekea (@ginakekea) November 25, 2021

On Thursday, Sogavare said that he blames foreign powers for civil unrest in the country prompted by his move to develop relations with China. He added that a switch between diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China is the main source of the conflict, as a populous region in the country has refused to follow the capital in favoring Beijing and severing ties with Taipei.