Samoa's first female PM to review costly China-backed projects

Fiame takes office after months of constitutional crisis

20210727N Samoa

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa took office in the country's first transition of power in 23 years. © AP

FUMI MATSUMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

SYDNEY -- Fiame Naomi Mata'afa took office Tuesday as Samoa's first female prime minister, ending months of post-election wrangling with the country's first transition of power in 23 years.

The change is expected to bring a review of China-funded infrastructure development under departing Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi that has ballooned Samoa's debt. Fiame told Reuters in May that she plans to scrap a $100 million port development project backed by Beijing.

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