Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa

Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, born on April twenty-ninth, nineteen fifty-seven, is a distinguished Samoan politician and High Chief (matai). She made history by becoming the first woman to serve as Samoa's head of government, holding the position of Prime Minister from twenty twenty-one to twenty twenty-five. As the daughter of Samoa's inaugural Prime Minister, Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II, she has continued her family's legacy in public service.

Her political career began with the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), where she made significant strides, including being the first woman appointed to a Cabinet position in Samoa. Mataʻafa served as the Minister of Education from nineteen ninety-one to two thousand six, followed by roles as Minister of Women and Minister of Justice. In two thousand sixteen, she became Samoa's first female deputy prime minister and deputy leader of the HRPP.

In two thousand twenty, Mataʻafa resigned from the HRPP in protest against the controversial Land and Titles Bill, subsequently joining the newly formed Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party. She was unanimously elected as its leader in March twenty twenty-one. Under her leadership, FAST secured a majority in the twenty twenty-one elections, but faced a constitutional crisis when the incumbent Prime Minister refused to relinquish office. The crisis was resolved by the Court of Appeal, affirming Mataʻafa's position as Prime Minister.

Her tenure was marked by challenges, including her removal from the FAST party in January twenty twenty-five after a dispute with party leadership. Following her expulsion, Mataʻafa and her cabinet ministers established the Samoa Uniting Party (SUP). However, during the subsequent snap election, the SUP secured only three seats, leading to her successor, Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt, taking office on September sixteenth.