Brigadier Mosese Tikoitoga (died 29 December 2023) was a Fijian soldier and diplomat, who served as Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces from 2014 to 2015.
Tikoitoga was educated at the University of Canberra, gaining a Masters in Management in Defence Studies, and at the University of Madras, where he gained a Masters of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies.[1]
Following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état he was appointed RFMF chief of staff in July 2007.[2] He acted as the spokesperson for the military regime.[3] He was appointed Land Forces Commander in October 2010, replacing Pita Driti who was sent on leave for plotting against the regime.[4] In May 2011 he was elected chair of the Fiji Rugby Union.[5]
In 2012 the military regime appointed a constitutional commission to draft a new constitution as part of a return to democracy.[6] in December 2012 Tikoitoga ordered all copies of the draft seized[7] and demanded the prosecution of commission chair Yash Ghai.[8] The draft was subsequently discarded and a new, military-drafted constitution imposed.
Tikoitoga was appointed RFMF commander in March 2014 in order to enable dictator Frank Bainimarama to form a political party and contest the 2014 Fijian general election.[9][10] He was replaced as Land Force Commander by Lieutenant Colonel Jone Kalouniwai.[11] During the election campaign he announced the military would be monitoring political party meetings,[12] but that the military would accept the election outcome.[13] He resigned abruptly in August 2015 and was replaced by Viliame Naupoto.[14]
In January 2016 he was appointed ambassador to Ethiopia.[1] In May 2023 he was appointed acting ambassador-at-large.[15] In September 2023 he was appointed high commissioner to Papua New Guinea.[16] He died in Port Moresby on 29 December 2023 after a brief illness.[17]
In November 2014 Tikoitoga was made an Officer of the Order of Fiji.[18] He died on 29 December 2023.[19]
References edit
- ^ a b "Tikoitoga officially commissioned as Fiji's Ambassador to Ethiopia". Fiji Village. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji military leader takes on extra responsibilities". RNZ. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fij's military worried by inreasing risk of arms smuggling". RNZ. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji interim leader appoints replacement officers to head military". RNZ. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji Rugby Union elect new chairman". RNZ. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji Constitutional Commission sworn in". RNZ. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Call for transparency after Fiji regime seizes draft constitution". RNZ. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji military says Ghai should be charged over constitution distribution". RNZ. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Tikoitoga to take over as Fiji military commander". RNZ. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji military handover ceremony underway". RNZ. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji military names new land force commander". RNZ. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji military will attend political meetings". RNZ. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji military says it will accept election outcome". RNZ. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji's military commander resigns after only 18 months". RNZ. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Tikoitoga appointed acting ambassador-at-large". Fiji Times. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs farewells newly appointed High Commissioner to PNG Tikoitoga". Fiji Village. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ Apenisa Waqairadovu (31 December 2023). "Fiji's High Commissioner to PNG passes on". FBC News. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Eighteen receive Order of Fiji". Fiji Times. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Fiji's High Commissioner to PNG and former RFMF commander, Mosese Tikoitoga passes away". Fiji Village. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.