The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Solomon Islands:
Solomon Islands is a sovereign Melanesian island country located in the South Pacific Ocean, south-east of Papua New Guinea.[1] The country is composed of nearly one thousand islands of the Solomon Islands archipelago, which cover a total land area of 27,540 square kilometres (10,630 sq mi). The capital is Honiara, located on the island of Guadalcanal.
The Solomon Islands archipelago is believed to have been inhabited by Melanesian people for thousands of years. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred in the Solomon Islands campaign of 1942–45, including the Battle of Guadalcanal. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. The country is a Commonwealth realm.
The historical North Solomon Islands covered Bougainville Island, Choiseul, Santa Isabel, the Shortlands and Ontong Java and were largely under German control until 1900. The southern Solomon Islands, which included Guadalcanal, the Nggelas, Gizo, Kolombangara, Marovo Island, Mborokua, New Georgia, Vella Lavella, Vangunu, Rennell, Bellona, Makira, Malaita, Temotu and a number of associated smaller islands were under British control and in 1893 became the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. In 1945, Bougainville, and some associated minor islands, were transferred away from the protectorate to Australian administration and then in 1970 became a part of Papua New Guinea. The remainder stayed under the protectorate until independence in 1978 at which point they were officially named Solomon Islands. All of the north and south Solomon Islands taken together are generally referred to as the Solomon Islands to distinguish them from the nation state of Solomon Islands.
Since 1998, ethnic violence, government misconduct, and crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003 an Australian-led "multinational" force, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias.[2]
