Republic of Fiji
Front de Liberational De Nationale Kanak et Solcialiste (FLNKS)
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Republic of Vanuatu
The MSG has had a proud origin since the Agreed Principles of Cooperation was signed in March 1988 in Port Vila, Vanuatu by the founding fathers, former Prime Ministers; namely PaiasWingti – PNG, Ezekiel Alebua – Solomon Islands, and Walter Lini – Vanuatu. The MSG has developed into a regional block with its own Trade Agreement (Revised in 2005), Agreement Establishing the MSG (signed on 23 March 2007) and its own headquarter building in Port Vila Vanuatu which opened at the 17thLeaders Summit on 30 May, 2008.
The MSG originated from a vision backed by strong political desire to strive for the entire decolonization and freedom of the Melanesian countries and territories still under the colonial rule in the South Pacific, thereby developing a stronger cultural, political, social and economic (trade) identity and link between the people and communities of Melanesia.
The concept of Melanesian Socialism and Melanesian Solidarity were often used by the late first Prime Minister of Vanuatu Walter HadyeLini as a campaign to rally collective support from his Melanesian counterparts to the cause of the Kanaks of New Caledonia, the peoples of both East Timor and West-Papua in their continuous struggle for self-determination and independence.
“Vanuatu will not be free until the entire region of Melanesia is free” was one of late Walter Lini’s popular declarations
in his campaigns to build the Melanesian solidarity.
Since the inaugural meeting of July 1986, eighteen (18) biennial MSG Summits have been held with the last one being held in Suva, Fiji from 28 to 30 March 2011. Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the FLNKS of New Caledonia have been attending all Summits as members. Fiji initially attended as an observer until its admission as a member in 1996.
The MSG Leaders’ Gallery at the MSG Secretariat at the Head Quarters in
Port Vila, Vanuatu