The Peace Corps’ planned return to the Solomon Islands has encountered a groundswell of enthusiasm and support, as reflected in a recently released report obtained by Al Jazeera through a freedom of information request. The report, titled the “Solomon Islands Re-entry Assessment Report,” paints a vivid picture of the widespread desire for the agency’s return after a two-decade absence.
During a visit by a Peace Corps assessment team, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare conveyed the government’s eagerness for the agency’s presence, stating, “We need you.” Similarly, Attorney-General John Muria lauded the Peace Corps’ enduring impact on the nation.
The report emphasized the warm reception accorded to the team at all levels of government, from the Prime Minister to provincial officials. Other development partners, non-governmental organizations, and community members echoed this support, citing the positive legacies left by previous Peace Corps volunteers.
The Peace Corps was initially invited to return to the Solomon Islands in February 2019, nearly five years after it announced its intention to do so. The agency had previously withdrawn from the country in 2000 due to ethnic violence. The assessment team’s report concluded that the Solomon Islands provides a conducive environment for Peace Corps volunteers to make meaningful contributions and receive necessary support.
Despite the strong desire for the Peace Corps’ return, its ongoing absence and the status of its planned re-establishment remain shrouded in uncertainty. While the agency publicly announced the re-establishment of its Solomon Islands program in October 2021, with volunteers expected to arrive in mid-2021, no further updates or explanations have been provided.
Meanwhile, the US Congress has allocated a mere $500 to the Peace Corps’ work in the archipelago for the 2024 fiscal year, suggesting little prospect of an imminent return. Al Jazeera previously reported on suspicions among opposition politicians and US observers that Sogavare’s government may be deliberately delaying the agency’s return to favor China, which has expanded its presence in the Solomon Islands in recent years.
The Solomon Islands has become a flashpoint in the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China due to its strategic location in the Pacific. The outcome of this week’s inconclusive general election, in which Sogavare seeks a fifth term, will likely shape the country’s future relations with Beijing.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the Peace Corps’ return, former US Ambassador to the Solomon Islands Catherine Ebert-Gray expressed optimism that the agency would eventually resume its work in the country. She emphasized the potential for Peace Corps volunteers to support the nation’s development goals in rural communities.
