Michael Somare
Michael Somare in 2008
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Incumbent
Assumed office 05 August 2002
Monarch : Elizabeth II
Governor
General : Silas Atopare
Bill Skate
Jeffrey Nape
Paulias Matane
Preceded by: Mekere Morauta
In office 02 August 1982 – 21 November 1985
Monarch : Elizabeth II
Governor
General : Tore Lokoloko
Kingsford Dibela
Preceded by: Julius Chan
Succeeded by: Paias Wingti
In office 16 September 1975 – 11 March 1980
Monarch : Elizabeth II
Governor
General : John Guise
Tore Lokoloko
Preceded by: Office created
Succeeded by : Julius Chan
Born : 9 April 1936 (age 73)
Rabaul, New Britain
Political party : NAP
Spouse(s) : Veronica Somare
Religion : Roman Catholic[1]
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, MP (born 9 April 1936) has been Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea since 2002; he was previously Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare’s first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he is now leader of the National Alliance Party. He was re-elected as Prime Minister in the 2007 election.
Early life
Somare was the son of Ludwig Somare Sana and Kambe Somare. Ludwig Somare was a policeman from 1922 to 1947, rising to the rank of sergeant. Having taught himself to read and write, he was subsequently active in encouraging formation of small businesses and co-operatives, founding the Angoram Co-operative Society which he chaired from 1961 until 1967, and remaining active in trading until his death in 1972. In all he had four wives and six children, of whom Somare was the eldest.
Born in Rabaul where his father was then stationed, Somare grew up in his family village of Karau in the Murik Lakes district of East Sepik Province. Somare’s earliest education was in a Japanese-run primary school at Karau during World War II where he learned to read, write and count in Japanese. Meanwhile Somare’s father was in hiding and fear of his life from the Japanese in Rabaul, but he remembers the Japanese with affection. Somare’s earliest overseas trips, first as a parliamentarian and then as Prime Minister, were to Japan.
From 1946 Somare attended Boram Primary School, then Dregerhafen Education Centre and Sogeri High School, graduating with a Leaving Certificate issued on behalf of the Australian state of Victoria in 1957. This was a teaching qualification at the time, and he then taught at several primary and secondary schools, returning to Sogeri High School for further training from 1962 to 1963.
Political life and the beginning of the PNG Independence movement
Early life in the independence movement
Transferring within the Public Service, Somare became a radio broadcaster based in Wewak in the East Sepik Province. He received further training at the Administrative College at Waigani in 1965. Following numerous conflicts with his superiors concerning his outspoken political comments, he was transferred from broadcasting to administrative roles, and left the Public Service to contest the elections for the second House of Assembly in 1968 as a member of the Pangu Party which he had founded with other like minds in 1967.
Somare and eight other Pangu Party members were elected. They declined invitations to join the coalition government, and he became the first official opposition leader. Following the third House of Assembly elections in 1972, He was able to form a coalition government which included Julius Chan of the People’s Progress Party, himself later a Prime Minister, as Minister for Internal Finance. Somare became Chief Minister when self-government was granted in 1973, and was a key figure in the preparations for subsequent independence in 1975 and the preparation and adoption of the Constitution.
