Pacific / Fiji

Fiji's military commander resigns after only 18 months

20:13 pm on 1 August 2015

The commander of Fiji's military, Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga, has resigned after only eighteen months in the job.

Mosese Tikoitoga. Photo: AFP

The president has appointed Captain Viliame Naupoto as acting commander with immediate effect.

Mr Naupoto has been appointed on the recommendation of prime minister and former commander Frank Bainimarama.

A government statement says he has been promoted to the rank of Commodore and will remain acting commander until a substantive appointment is made.

The statement says Brigadier General Tikoitoga resigned to pursue a career in the foreign service, but gives no further detail.

A former Navy Commander, Viliame Naupoto became a cabinet minister in the Bainimarama government before returning to the military as Chief of Staff earlier this year.