The largest island, Bougainville, together with a few others in the north-west, is part of Papua New Guinea; all the rest constitute a country in which the most important island is Guadalcanal. Lying at the edge of the Pacific plate, the region is subject to earthquakes; and there are volcanoes on the main islands.
The soil is generally fertile enabling cocoa and tobacco to be grown, although the main resource is copra — dried coconut kernels, from which oil can be expressed. Timber and palm oil are exported. Fishing is also important. After some years of occupation, European missionaries and settlers arrived throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and in the German New Guinea Company established control of the north Solomons.
Britain declared a protectorate over the southern islands in Solomon Mamaloni Prime Minister since faced severe criticism during for allegedly ignoring the constitution and seeking to rule without a mandate. His short-lived administration ended in late , when Mamaloni again won power. Relations with Papua New Guinea continued to be strained.
After elections in a new government was formed, with Batholomew Ulufa'alu as Prime Minister. Ethnic violence broke out on Guadalcanal in between the indigenous population and the Malaitan community from the neighbouring island of Malaita. This escalated until , when an Australian peacekeeping force was deployed. Peace was thereafter gradually restored. View all reference entries ». View all related items in Oxford Reference ». Search for: 'Solomon Islands' in Oxford Reference ». All Rights Reserved.
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