Mosese Tikoitoga
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Mosese Tikoitoga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| High commissioner to Papua New Guinea | |
| In office August 1, 2023 – December 29, 2023 (Died in Office) | |
| President | Wiliame Katonivere |
| Prime Minister | Sitiveni Rabuka |
| Preceded by | None (Mission Closed) |
| Succeeded by | Jackson Bernard Nato Evans |
| Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces | |
| In office March 5, 2014 – August 1, 2015 | |
| President | Ratu Epeli Nailatikau |
| Prime Minister | Frank Bainimarama |
| Preceded by | Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama |
| Succeeded by | Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 20, 1961 |
| Died | December 29, 2023 (aged 62) |
| Spouse | Jiutajia Saukuru Tikoitoga |
| Alma mater | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Republic of Fiji |
| Branch/service | Fiji Infantry Regiment |
| Years of service | 32 years |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
Brigadier Mosese Tikoitoga (died 29 December 2023) was a Fijian soldier and diplomat, who served as Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces from 2014 to 2015.
Tikoitoga was educated at the University of Canberra, gaining a Masters in Management in Defence Studies, and at the University of Madras, where he gained a Masters of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies.[1]
Following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état he was appointed RFMF chief of staff in July 2007.[2] He acted as the spokesperson for the military regime.[3] He was appointed Land Forces Commander in October 2010, replacing Pita Driti who was sent on leave for plotting against the regime.[4] In May 2011 he was elected chair of the Fiji Rugby Union.[5]
In 2012 the military regime appointed a constitutional commission to draft a new constitution as part of a return to democracy.[6] in December 2012 Tikoitoga ordered all copies of the draft seized[7] and demanded the prosecution of commission chair Yash Ghai.[8] The draft was subsequently discarded and a new, military-drafted constitution imposed.
Tikoitoga was appointed RFMF commander in March 2014 in order to enable dictator Frank Bainimarama to form a political party and contest the 2014 Fijian general election.[9][10] He was replaced as Land Force Commander by Lieutenant Colonel Jone Kalouniwai.[11] During the election campaign he announced the military would be monitoring political party meetings,[12] but that the military would accept the election outcome.[13] He resigned abruptly in August 2015 and was replaced by Viliame Naupoto.[14]
In January 2016 he was appointed ambassador to Ethiopia and later the Representative to the African Union.[1] In May 2023 he was appointed acting ambassador-at-large.[15] In September 2023 he was appointed high commissioner to Papua New Guinea, a post he previously served in till 2020 when the office closed down due to the Covid-29 Pandemic.[16] He died in Port Moresby on 29 December 2023 after a brief illness.[17]
In November 2014 Tikoitoga was made an Officer of the Order of Fiji.[18] He died on 29 December 2023.[19]