The Solomon Islands will have a new Prime Minister tomorrow, after the current PM Manasseh Sogavare stood down following big losses for his party in the recent election. The nationwide vote was the first since Sogavare signed a controversial security agreement with China in 2022, and the outcome was being closely watched by many in the international community, including Australia. While he won his own seat, Sogavare’s party only hung onto 15 electorates in a 50-seat Parliament – and the biggest opposition group says it’s got a coalition of 20 MPs. “Soga”, as he’s known locally, blamed the backlash on the media, saying he has been “increasingly vilified” and his family had copped “unprecedented abuse”. He’ll be replaced by Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele as party leader – but it’s still not clear which MP will emerge in the top job after tomorrow’s vote.