Mosese_Tikoitoga

Mosese Tikoitoga

Mosese Tikoitoga

Fijian soldier and diplomat (died 2023)


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 in 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

  1. "Tikoitoga officially commissioned as Fiji's Ambassador to Ethiopia". Fiji Village. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  2. "Fiji military leader takes on extra responsibilities". RNZ. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. "Fij's military worried by inreasing risk of arms smuggling". RNZ. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. "Fiji interim leader appoints replacement officers to head military". RNZ. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  5. "Fiji Rugby Union elect new chairman". RNZ. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  6. "Fiji Constitutional Commission sworn in". RNZ. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  7. "Call for transparency after Fiji regime seizes draft constitution". RNZ. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  8. "Tikoitoga to take over as Fiji military commander". RNZ. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  9. "Fiji military handover ceremony underway". RNZ. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  10. "Fiji military names new land force commander". RNZ. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  11. "Fiji military will attend political meetings". RNZ. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  12. "Fiji military says it will accept election outcome". RNZ. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  13. "Fiji's military commander resigns after only 18 months". RNZ. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  14. "Tikoitoga appointed acting ambassador-at-large". Fiji Times. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  15. Apenisa Waqairadovu (31 December 2023). "Fiji's High Commissioner to PNG passes on". FBC News. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  16. "Eighteen receive Order of Fiji". Fiji Times. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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