Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo
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Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo | |
|---|---|
 Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo in 2025 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa | |
| In office 16 September 2025 – 24 March 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt |
| Preceded by | Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Minister of Communications and Information Technology | |
| In office 24 May 2021 – 14 January 2025[a] | |
| Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
| Preceded by | Afamasaga Rico Tupai |
| Succeeded by | Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai |
| Member of the Samoan Parliament for Falealili No. 1 | |
| In office 24 May 2021 – 24 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Aumua Isaia Lameko |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi |
Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo is a Samoan politician who has served as the deputy prime minister of Samoa from 2025 to 2026. He is a member of the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party.[1]
Onesemo was educated at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, obtaining a bachelor's and master's degree in civil engineering, as well as the University of the South Pacific, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a teaching certificate.[2] He worked as a teacher in Samoa from 1994 to 1999, and since 2002 has served as a public servant.[2] In 2015 he was appointed chief executive of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.[2]
He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the April 2021 Samoan general election, winning the seat of Falealili No. 1.[3]
On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Communications and Information Technology in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[4] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[5]
On 14 January 2025 he was dismissed by prime minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.[6][7] He was replaced by Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai.[8] On 15 January Mataʻafa was expelled from the FAST party and Onesemo was elected deputy chair.[9]
Following FAST's victory at the 2025 snap election, Onesemo became deputy prime minister and minister of works in the cabinet of Prime Minister Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt.[10] The Supreme Court stripped Onesemo of his parliamentary seat in March 2026, after finding that he had engaged in bribery during the 2025 election.[11] As a result, he ceased to be deputy prime minister and minister of works.[12]
