Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II

Tuimalealiifano Va'aleto'a Eti Sualauvi II (born 29 April 1947)[1] is a Samoan politician who is the current O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa, in office since 2017. He was appointed to the Tama-a-'aiga title of Tuimalealiifano in July 1977, one of four paramount titles of Samoa.[2][3]

His Highness Tuimalealiifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II
Head of State of Samoa (O le Ao o le Malo)
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 July 2017
Prime Minister	Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Deputy	Le Mamea Ropati
Preceded by	Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi
Personal details
Born	Tuimalealiifano Va'aleto'a Eti Sualauvi II 29 April 1947
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Masiofo Fa'amausili Leinafo
Alma mater	Australian National University Malua Theological College

Biography

Tuimalealiifano Va'aleto'a Eti Sualauvi II is a member of the Tuimalealiifano family, a younger branch of the Sā Tupua state dynasty and one of the four paramount titles of Samoa.[4] He is married to Masiofo Faamausili Leinafo Tuimalealiifano.

He is the great-grandson of one of the Mau movement leaders, Tuimalealiifano Fa'aoloi'i Si'ua'ana, and grand-nephew of the sole Member of the Council of Deputies (1962–1974), Tui Aana Tuimaleaiifano Suatipatipa II.[5]

Early career

He worked as a policeman, lawyer and previously was a Samoan Police Chief Inspector and a secondary school teacher. He was a police officer in New Zealand for three years. He also served as a public-defender, public trustee, and barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Samoa. He is an elder deacon and lay preacher for the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in the village of Matautu Falelatai. He has preached sermons in Australia and New Zealand for the Christian Congregational Church of Samoa.

Statesmen

He was a member of the Council of Deputies to the Head of State from 1993 to 2001 and since 2004.[6] He was sworn in as O le Ao o le Malo on 21 July 2017.[7] In 2019, he hosted the visit of President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[8]

Education

Tuimalealiifano has a bachelor's degree in Law from the Australian National University and a Diploma in Theological Studies from Malua Theological College.

References

1. "Tui A'ana Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II". Government of Samoa. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
2. "New head of state for Samoa". Radio NZ. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
3. "Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II, is Samoa's fourth Head of State". Samoa Observer. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
4. Tuimaleali'ifano, Morgan A. (19..-....). Auteur. (2006). O tama a 'aiga = he politics of succession to Samoa's paramount titles. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific. ISBN 978-982-02-0377-8. OCLC 494614506.
5. Genealogy
6. "Tui A'ana Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II, is Samoa's fourth Head of State". Samoa Observer. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
7. Samoa Planet
8. Mayron, Sapeer. "Head of State greets President Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints", Samoa Observer, 18 May 2019. Retrieved on 23 March 2020.

External links

• Va'aletoa Sualauvi II: Official site