Australia leads a regional assistance mission

Australia offers to lead a regional assistance mission if a formal request is made by the Solomon Islands Governor-General, on the advice of Cabinet, and the mission has regional endorsement.

PIF endorses RAMSI under Biketawa Declaration

Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers endorse the RAMSI deployment under the Biketawa Declaration in 2000. The Declaration enables Forum members to act in times of crisis or in response to a member’s request.

Arrival of RAMSI

Thousands of Solomon Islanders gather at Honiara’s Henderson International Airport to witness the arrival of more than 2,000 soldiers, police and civilians from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

RAMSI treaty signed

The RAMSI Treaty, which set out the mission’s mandate, was signed in Townsville by the Prime Ministers of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, and senior officials from Solomon Islands and Samoa.

Provincial police presence established

The RAMSI Participating Police Force (PPF) establishes its first provincial presence in Avu Avu, restoring a police presence on the Weathercoast for the first time in nearly five years. Over coming months, RAMSI establishes a presence in 17 provincial locations.

Harold Keke surrenders

Guadalcanal militant leader Harold Keke surrenders peacefully to RAMSI Special Coordinator, Nick Warner, and Participating Police Force Commander, Ben McDevitt.

Peace rally in Honiara

A major peace rally fills the streets of Honiara celebrating the nation’s newfound peace.

Rove Central Prison re-opens

Rove Central Prison re-opens, with the first 12 cells of what becomes a 300-bed high security facility.

First 100 days of RAMSI

3,700 firearms destroyed, 340 arrests, Government finances stabilised and payroll restored.

Regional cooperation: PNG joins RAMSI

Papua New Guinea agrees to contribute police.

Regional cooperation: Nauru joins RAMSI

Nauru agrees to contribute police.

Regional cooperation: Tuvalu joins RAMSI

The small island nation of Tuvalu contributes police officers.

RAMSI suffers a casualty

Participating Police Force officer Adam Dunning shot dead in Honiara, RAMSI’s first and only casualty by armed opposition.

Trial of Harold Keke begins

The trial of renegade Guadalcanal Liberation Force commander Harold Keke – the first major Tensions-related trial – begins.

Civic education project launched

RAMSI launches a civic education project to educate citizens about their democratic rights and responsibilities in a democracy ahead of the 2006 General Election.

Regional cooperation: Federated States of Micronesia joins RAMSI

The Federated States of Micronesia contribute police to RAMSI.

Regional cooperation: Palau joins RAMSI

First People’s Survey conducted

People’s Survey Pilot conducted in selected areas of Honiara and Guadalcanal, Malaita, Western and Choiseul Provinces. The annual People’s Survey would show that public support for RAMSI never waned, remaining above 85 per cent.

Regional cooperation: Republic of the Marshall Islands joins RAMSI

Community Outreach Program

RAMSI Community Outreach Program launches with representatives of RAMSI’s civilian, police and military components, along with Solomon Islands Government counterparts.

Earthquake and tsunami strike

RAMSI assists with relief efforts after a large earthquake and tsunami struck Solomon Islands’ Western provinces, killing 52 people and destroying 900 homes.

RAMSI marks first International Women’s Day

First RAMSI Women’s Breakfast held for more than 200 women marking International Women’s Day.

Tragic death of a Solomon Islander

RAMSI apologises for the tragic death of a young Solomon Islands woman in a fatal accident involving a RAMSI vehicle driven by an off-duty Samoan police officer in Honiara.

Inaugural Special Coordinator’s award for women

First Special Coordinator’s Award for Women presented to community volunteer, Betty Komasi, in recognition of her founding of the Mercy School in the Burns Creek settlement. RAMSI also appoints a Gender Adviser to strengthen efforts on behalf of women and men of Solomon Islands.

Partnership Framework receives bipartisan endorsement

Partnership Framework between Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI endorsed by both parties and the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI.

New Correctional Centre opens

The new Correctional Centre in Auki, Malaita Province, meets all the United Nations standards for prisoner accommodation and treatment.

Foreign Relations Committee inquiry handed down

The Solomon Islands Foreign Relations Committee praises RAMSI for its significant achievements and concludes that the greater involvement of the Pacific Islands Forum in the Mission’s governance has been effective.

New Public Service Code of Conduct launched

Launch of the new Public Service Code of Conduct, which was developed with assistance from RAMSI.

Being the First: Storis Blong Olketa Mere lo Solomon Aelan book launch

Being the First: Storis Blong Olketa Mere lo Solomon Aelan, the first book on Solomon Islands’ women leaders launched with RAMSI’s assistance.

New court complex built

New court complex opens in Auki, Malaita province, jointly funded by Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI.

New shared facilities built

Leadership Code Commission and Ombudsman’s Office move into new shared facilities built by Solomon Islands and RAMSI.

National Election conducted smoothly

RAMSI helped with civic education across the nation about the parliamentary process, encouraged women to run for office, strengthened election management, improved voter registration systems, transported ballot papers and ballot boxes, and bolstered Royal Solomon Islands Police Force security operations ahead of the election.

Titinge incident

Fatal shooting of a Solomon Islander on the outskirts of Honiara. First and only time that the actions of RAMSI personnel operating in the line of duty result in the death of a Solomon Islander.

Economic recovery milestone

Revenue collections exceed SBD1 billion in 2010, the first time in the history of the nation.

New accommodation handed over to local police

First of 146 new police houses formally handed over to RSIPF officers and their families in Honiara by RAMSI’s Police Accommodation Project.

Dovetail dialogue commences

Dovetail dialogue on RAMSI’s Transition held between the Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI officials.

RAMSI begins to withdraw from provincial posts

RAMSI Police withdraw from the first provincial police post in Buala, Isabel Province, as part of the Transition to a solely police assistance mission.

Riot controlled by RSIPF

Solomon Islands Police Response Team lead the quelling of a near-riot in Honiara following the election of Gordon Darcy Lilo as Prime Minister.

RAMSI exhibition at United Nations New York

Achievements of the Solomon Islands-RAMSI partnership feature in an exhibition on peacekeeping at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The exhibition also toured Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

New Provincial Police Headquarters

New RSIPF Provincial Police Headquarters opens in Isabel Province.

Gizo Police Post opens

New Provincial Police Headquarters open in Gizo, Western Province

NZ troops farewell RAMSI and Solomon Islands

The final New Zealand Defence Force platoon departs.

Troops farewelled

Papua New Guinea Defence Force troops are farewelled as RAMSI prepares to become a solely police assistance mission.

Development partners increase their support

Australia is Solomon Islands’ main development partner. Australian development assistance to Solomon Islands, continues to focus on improving health, education, water and sanitation, transport, telecommunications, law and justice, rural livelihoods and effective governance.

Bilateral relationship strengthened

RAMSI’s civilian development activities shift to Australian and New Zealand aid programs and other development partners.

RAMSI’s 10th anniversary

Written to mark the 10th anniversary of RAMSI, ‘Rebuilding a Nation in Partnership’ examines RAMSI’s achievments. The book is a tribute to the Government and people of Solomon Islands and to all those people who worked as civilians, soldiers and police officers for the Mission.

Drawdown Strategy 2013-17 agreed

PPF-RSIPF Drawdown Strategy 2013-2017 agreed, including an agreement that RAMSI would reduce its resources and footprint with a view to transferring full responsibility for policing and national security before 30 June 2017.

RAMSI gifts boats to RSIPF

RAMSI announces it has gifted 32 boats to the RSIPF, increasing its fleet four-fold, as part of the maritime mobility plan funded jointly by the Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI.

New Police Act

The new Police Act 2013, which was developed with RAMSI’s support, comes into effect and provides the necessary legal foundations to support a modern RSIPF.

Floods devastate Honiara

Flash flooding on Guadalcanal causes significant damage to homes, infrastructure and livelihoods, affecting an estimated 52,000 people. The RSIPF leads the overall response to the floods, with RAMSI support in operational planning, aerial support, search and rescue operations and patrols. Gold Ridge Mine suspends its operations and RAMSI deploys technical experts to assist the Solomon Islands Government assess risks from hazardous materials on site.

RSIPF controls unrest

Community frustration with flood relief efforts is managed by the RSIPF Police Response Team with support from RAMSI and Australian High Commission.

Seif Ples clinic opens in Honiara

Seif Ples clinic for victims of family and sexual violence opens with support from the RSIPF Sexual Assault Unit and RAMSI. Since opening in 2014 the Seif Ples Clinic has been offering a place of safety and access to urgent medical care for survivors of violence.

RSIPF provides training for PICs

RSIPF officers conduct training in Public Order Management for Nauru Police Force members. Before RAMSI left, the RSIPF would also train police in Samoa and Vanuatu.

2014 National election held

Solomon Islands national election is declared free and fair by electoral observers. The RSIPF successfully conducts its largest and most visible operation since 2003, supported by RAMSI, which increased its numbers to support election security operations.

Mbike Island incident

Firearm and arson attack near Mbike Island, Central Province, on a boat that had transported 17 newly elected Members of Parliament. No one injured or killed.

RSIPF rearmament discussions

Provincial consultations on the limited and staged rearmament of the RSIPF commence.

RSIPF provide security for summit

RSIPF successfully lead the planning and delivery of security for the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders’ Summit in Honiara.

New police station

RAMSI hands over new RAMSI-built police station in Auki, Malaita Province.

RSIPF budget receives boost

The influential ‘Appropriate Cost of Solomon Islands Police Service’ report presented to Solomon Islands Government, and later endorsed by Cabinet.

RAMSI police advisers withdraw

Auki-based RAMSI police advisers withdraw, 12 years after setting up the post to support the RSIPF in Malaita Province.

Edmund Sae arrested

Long-time fugitive Edmund Sae arrested in Malaita for the 2003 murder of former Police Commissioner Sir Frederick Soaki, closing the chapter on one of the last major Tensions-era crimes.

Launch of children’s story book

RSIPF and RAMSI launch a children’s story book to discourage alcohol abuse and family violence and build trust in the police.

RSIPF increase their visibility

The RSIPF conduct high visibility patrols and boat safety operations throughout the Christmas period.

Family Protection Act

Solomon Islands Government passes the Family Protection Act 2014, which formally recognises protection orders and provides the basis for assistance to victims of domestic violence.

RAMSI completes withdrawal from provinces

Gizo-based RAMSI police advisers withdraw from Western Province. Now RAMSI is only based in Honiara.

New armoury opens at Rove Police Headquarters

Opening of the RAMSI-built RSIPF National Response Department headquarters and armoury at Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara.

Capability Development Plan

The Solomon Islands Government endorses the RSIPF’s five-year Capability Development Plan, which will inform government decision-makers and guide future development partners.

Operation Janus

RSIPF and Ministry of Finance and Treasury sign an agreement that leads to the high-profile Operation Janus, which investigates and prosecutes fraud and corruption in the Solomon Islands public service.

PIF leaders endorse RAMSI’s conclusion

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders endorse the withdrawal of RAMSI in June 2017 and congratulate Solomon Islands and RAMSI on the significant progress made to date.

Earthquake strikes

On 9 December 2016, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck 70 kilometres south-west of the island of Makira, 187km from Honiara. The RSIPF provide first response, with limited assistance from RAMSI.

Community consultations

RAMSI and SIG step up their extensive program of community consultations ahead of RAMSI’s conclusion in June 2017.

Staged RSIPF rearmament

Members of the RSIPF’s Police Response Team and Close Personal Protection team are rearmed so that the RSIPF can protect its communities, borders and waters.

Firearms amnesty

Second firearms amnesty and gun collection and destruction program.

RAMSI farewell celebrations

A week of end-of-mission and farewell celebrations commence in Honiara.

Permanent RAMSI exhibition opens

Launch of the permanent RAMSI exhibition at the National Museum, Honiara.

RAMSI ends

The RAMSI mission concludes on 30 June 2017.