List of heads of state of Fiji

This article lists the heads of state of Fiji, from the establishment of the Kingdom of Fiji in 1871 to the present day.

Tui Viti (King of Fiji) (1871–1874)

Main article: Tui Viti

• Seru Epenisa Cakobau (5 June 1871 – 10 October 1874) (ceded Fiji to the United Kingdom)

Note that Cakobau had been the Vunivalu (Warlord/Paramount Chief) of Bau since 1852. He had long styled himself the Tui Viti (King of Fiji), but had not been recognized as such by other chiefs, and he exercised no direct authority outside his domain of Bau until he united the country under his leadership in 1871. His ancestors, going back as far as 1770, have often – erroneously – been listed as "Kings" of Fiji.

British period (1874–1970)

On 10 October 1874, Cakobau signed the Deed of Cession, that granted the British Empire sovereignty over the islands in 1874. From 1874 to 1970, the British Monarch was Fiji's formal head of state.

• Queen Victoria (10 October 1874 – 22 January 1901)
• King Edward VII (22 January 1901 – 6 May 1910)
• King George V (6 May 1910 – 20 January 1936)
• King Edward VIII (20 January 1936 – 11 December 1936)
• King George VI (11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952)
• Queen Elizabeth II (6 February 1952 – 10 October 1970)

Queen of Fiji (1970–1987)

Main article: Monarchy of Fiji

In 1970, Fiji became an independent realm of the Commonwealth, and Queen Elizabeth II, assumed the role of Queen of Fiji.

• Queen Elizabeth II held the title of Queen of Fiji (10 October 1970 – 6 October 1987)†

†Ousted following military coup and proclamation of Republic.

Governors-General (1970–1987)

Main article: Governor-General of Fiji

The Queen of Fiji was represented by a governor-general, who acted on the advice of the Fijian government.

25x25px Governor-General of Fiji
No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Monarch
			Took office	Left office
Dominion of Fiji
1.	Sir Robert Sidney Foster (1913–2005)		10 October 1970	13 January 1973	79x79px Elizabeth II
2.	Ratu Sir George Cakobau (1912–1989)	60px	13 January 1973	12 February 1983
3.	Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau (1918–1993)	60px	12 February 1983	6 October 1987

Presidents (1987–present)

Main article: President of Fiji

Fiji was proclaimed a republic on 7 October 1987, upon the abdication of Queen Elizabeth II following two military coups. Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka, who had masterminded the coups, formed an interim administration, exercising the powers of the presidency but without taking the title, styling himself Head of the Interim Military Government instead. On 5 December that year, the last Governor General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, was appointed the first president. Ganilau served as president until 15 December 1993, when he died in office. He was succeeded by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

In the constitutional upheaval of 2000, following the forced resignation of President Mara on 29 May, Commodore Frank Bainimarama styled himself Head of the Interim Military Government (as had Rabuka in 1987), until Ratu Josefa Iloilo was appointed president on 13 July 2000. On 5 December 2006, Commodore Frank Bainimarama deposed the Fijian Government and President Iloilo and again become Head of the Interim Military Government. On 4 January 2007 Iloilo was restored to presidency, and remain president until 30 July 2009, when he retired and Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau become acting president. On 5 November 2009, Nailatikau was sworn in as president.

List of presidents of Fiji

	President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party		Election	Prime minister(s)
Sitiveni Rabuka	Major general Sitiveni Rabuka (Acting) (born 1948) Head of the Interim Military Government	7 October 1987	5 December 1987			Military	—	—
Penaia Ganilau	Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau (1918–1993)	5 December 1987	15 December 1993 †			Independent	1987	Mara Rabuka
	Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (Acting) (1920–2004)	16 December 1993	18 January 1994			Independent	—	Rabuka
	Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004)	18 January 1994	29 May 2000			Independent	1994	Rabuka Chaudhry Momoedonu
	Commodore Frank Bainimarama (Acting) (born 1954) Head of the Interim Military Government	29 May 2000	13 July 2000			Military	—	Qarase
	Ratu Josefa Iloilo (1920–2011)	13 July 2000	5 December 2006			Independent	2000 2006	Qarase Momoedonu Qarase
	Commodore Frank Bainimarama (Acting) (born 1954) Head of the Interim Military Government	5 December 2006	4 January 2007			Military	—	Senilagakali
	Ratu Josefa Iloilo (1920–2011)	4 January 2007	30 July 2009			Independent	—	Bainimarama
Epeli Nailatikau	Ratu Brigadier general (Rtd) Epeli Nailatikau (Acting) (born 1941)	30 July 2009	5 November 2009			Independent	—	Bainimarama
Epeli Nailatikau	Ratu Brigadier general (Rtd) Epeli Nailatikau (born 1941)	5 November 2009	12 November 2015			Independent	2009	Bainimarama
Jioji Konrote	Major general (Rtd) Jioji Konrote (born 1947)	12 November 2015	12 November 2021	years		[[FijiFirst|Template:FijiFirst/meta/shortname]]	2015 2018	Bainimarama
Wiliame Katonivere	Ratu Wiliame Katonivere (born 1964)	12 November 2021	Incumbent			[[FijiFirst|Template:FijiFirst/meta/shortname]]	2021	Bainimarama

See also

• President of Fiji
• Prime Minister of Fiji