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December 22, 2022

Fiji Deploys Military Amid Fallout from Disputed Election
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Fiji's government has called in the military to help "maintain law and
order" amid a deepening political crisis following last week's contested
election. Long-standing Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has refused to
concede, delaying the swearing-in of returning Prime Minister Sitiveni
Rabuka, who on Tuesday reached a deal with other opposition parties on
forming a new coalition government. Bainimarama originally came to power
in a 2006 coup; Rabuka seized power in Fiji's first coup in 1987. Rabuka
is expected to pursue tighter ties with U.S. allies Australia and New
Zealand, while the current leader maintained a close relationship with
China.


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