Ati George Sokomanu


Ati George Sokomanu, is a ni-Vanuatu politician who served as the first president of the country. He was elected President by the Parliament when Vanuatu gained independence in 1980. He resigned in February 1984 while he was prosecuted for a tax violation, but was reelected and restored to the presidency weeks later by the Parliament for a 5-year term. In December 1988 he attempted to dismiss Prime Minister Walter Lini and install a new government headed by his own nephew Barak Sopé; the Supreme Court of Vanuatu overturned the President's decision the next day. The Electoral College removed Sokomanu from office for "gross misconduct" in 1989.

Early life

Born in 1937 in Mele, Sokomanu was educated at Iririki District School in Post Vila and the Lelean Memorial School in Fiji. He joined the New Hebrides British National Service as a clerical officer in 1957 and spent almost 20 years in the District Administration. After graduating in 1965 with a Diploma in Public and Social Administration, he was promoted to assistant administrative officer. In 1974, he underwent an administrative course at the University of the South Pacific. He was elected as a member of the New Hebrides Advisory Council in 1969. From 1978 to 1979, he was the Minister of Public Administration in the Government of National Unity. Elected to the parliament in 1979, he served as Minister of Home Affairs and deputy chief minister in Walter Link's government.
An Anglophone, Sokomanu was a member of the Vanua'aku Pati during his presidency. He is the uncle of former Prime Minister Barak Sopé. Ati George Sokomanu received his secondary school education at Lelean Memorial School, in Fiji in the 1940s. He served as Secretary-General of the Pacific Community from 1993 to 1996.
He has been awarded the Vanuatu Order of Merit and an MBE.