# Death and state funeral of Malietoa Tanumafili II

Malietoa Tanumafili II, the O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa and paramount chief of the Malietoa lineage, died on 11 May 2007 in Apia at the age of 94. At the time of his death, he was the oldest incumbent state leader and head of state for over 45 years, having been appointed for life to the post when Samoa gained independence in 1962. His state funeral was held on 18 May and was attended by a significant amount of domestic and regional dignitaries.

## Death

Malietoa died at 18:45 on 11 May 2007 (local time), at the Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole National Hospital in Motoʻotua, Apia, where he had been hospitalised for pneumonia. Sources said that his death was a result of "chest complications". During his final illness, Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi visited Malietoa's relatives at the hospital, where a church service had been conducted.
His death was announced on state broadcaster SBC TV1 by Secretary of State Vaʻasatia Poloma Komiti, who added that Tuilaʻepa would address the nation later in the day. Malietoa was survived by two sons and two daughters.
In addition to being the oldest state leader, he was also the world's longest serving incumbent head of state after King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Elizabeth II, and the longest serving non-monarchical state leader (a distinction which passed to Gabonese president Omar Bongo). His death was the last of a series of high-ranking dignitaries in the region within the preceding years, following those of Fijian former leader Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Māori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu, Tongan monarch Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, and the king of the French chiefdom of Uvea, Tomasi Kulimoetoke II.

## State mourning

Samoa entered a state of official mourning from the time of the Malietoa's death until his state funeral, during which all Samoan flags were lowered to half-mast. Many Samoans wore white and black as a sign of respect for the Malietoa, in accordance with tradition. The government encouraged traditional Samoan dress for the funeral, specifically "a black lavalava or sulu and a white top with traditional elei patterns." Samoans were also asked to include the teuila flower, the national flower of Samoa, with their mourning attire.

## State funeral

Malietoa's remains were taken from a private funeral home to his residence at Faʻatoʻialemanu on 16 May, which marked the beginning of his funeral proceedings. Members of his family attended a special private service that night. His coffin was then moved to the grounds of the Legislative Assembly building in Mulinuʻu, near Apia, to lie in state on 17 May.
The state funeral was held on 18 May in Mulinuʻu, in the form of an interdenominational service which combined foreign and Samoan cultural protocol. It included eulogies by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa and Malietoa's son. Following the ceremony, the coffin was taken by a police national guard for burial at his family's mausoleum. The date of the funeral was declared a national holiday.
The New Zealand delegation at the funeral was led by Governor-General Anand Satyanand, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Māori King Tūheitia Paki. Other foreign guests included King George Tupou V of Tonga, Governor-General of Australia Michael Jeffery, American Samoan Governor Togiola Tulafono, and officials from Fiji, Tuvalu, Niue, Japan, China and French Polynesia. The United States was represented by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs, Papaliʻi David Cohen, whose matai title was conferred by Malietoa.

## Succession

Malietoa's death created a vacancy in the headship of state. The Council of Deputies performed the functions of head of state in the interim, pending a new election to determine a permanent successor. On 17 May, the speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Tolo Fua Falemoe, announced that nomination forms had been sent to its members with a deadline of thirty-five days from notification. Two candidates who were seen as likely to succeed Malietoa were fellow paramount chiefs Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, both at the time members of the Council of Deputies. On 16 June, Tui Ātua, the sole nominee, was unanimously elected by the Legislative Assembly.
Following an extended period of deliberation, the Malietoa title passed to his eldest surviving son, Malietoa Moli II, having formally being decided by a court ruling in 2017. The title was initially bestowed on him unilaterally shortly after Tanumafili II's death, but this was later ruled illegal by the Lands and Titles Court.

## Reactions

* Fijian foreign affairs minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau described the Malietoa's death as "a loss of the entire Pacific, not only Samoa."
* Newly elected Micronesian President Manny Mori sent a letter to Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa stating that Malietoa Tanumafili II was a "great leader and pioneer of Samoa", whose "wisdom, leadership and dedication contributed to the forgoing and eventual inception of the Samoan Nation."
* New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said: "Through his long reign as Head of State, Malietoa represented Samoa with wisdom, humour and insight. [...] It is significant that New Zealand has a Treaty of Friendship with only one country – Samoa – and our shared unique relationship was due in no small part to Malietoa's influence as a father of modern Samoa. New Zealanders of Samoan descent, together with their palagi counterparts, will be thinking of Samoa, at this sad time."
** Tino Pereira, a spokesperson for the Samoan Council in Wellington, described the Malietoa as "a founding father of Samoan independence."
* The United States Department of State released a statement: "The United States extends its condolences to His Highness Malietoa's two sons and two daughters and the people of Samoa during this time of sorrow. His Highness Malietoa played an important and valued role in the history of his country. He was one of Samoa's founding fathers and served as Head of State since Samoa gained independence in 1962. He also led by example, working to promote democracy and prosperity in his country and throughout the Pacific. As Samoans mourn the loss of their beloved leader, the United States remains committed to maintaining the strong bilateral relationship cultivated through the partnership with His Highness and the Samoan Government."
** American Samoan Governor Togiola Tulafono extended his condolences. Many American Samoans considered Malietoa to be "the father of the two Samoas".
* The United Nations General Assembly observed a moment of silence on 16 May in honour of Malietoa.