Solomons

Solomons refers to the Solomon Islands, a sovereign country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and a member of Melanesia. The archipelago comprises roughly 900 islands, with Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Santa Isabel among the largest. The capital and largest city is Honiara, located on Guadalcanal. The islands cover about 28,400 square kilometers and have a population of around 700,000. English is the official language; Pijin is widely spoken as a lingua franca, and more than 70 indigenous languages are spoken across the country.

History and formation: The archipelago was named Islas Salomon by the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña in 1568, in reference to the biblical King Solomon. It later became a British protectorate and gained independence on 7 July 1978. The Solomon Islands were a major theater in the Pacific War during World War II, notably the Guadalcanal Campaign (1942–43). In the early 2000s, a regional stabilization mission, RAMSI, helped restore security after political and ethnic unrest, with the mission ending in 2017.

Politics and government: The Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth. The monarch is represented by a Governor-General, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The National Parliament has 50 members elected to serve terms that can be up to four years.

Economy and environment: The economy relies on forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and mining-related activities, with timber exports historically significant. Tourism is developing. The country faces development challenges, including vulnerability to natural disasters and the need to balance growth with biodiversity conservation.