Sokomanu, Ati George (1937– )

Vanuatuan politician, president 1980–88. Upon becoming president, he caused a constitutional crisis in December 1988 when he dismissed Walter Lini, the prime minister since 1980; dissolved parliament; and appointed his nephew, Barak Sope, who had been expelled from parliament in July 1988, as head of an interim administration. The Vanuatu Supreme Court ruled that these actions had been unconstitutional and Sokomanu and Sope were arrested by security forces loyal to Lini, who was restored to office. Sokomanu was replaced as president by Fred Timakata and in March 1989 Sokomanu was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. However, the Court of Appeal quashed this sentence and Sokomanu was released in April 1989. He served as secretary general of the Pacific Community (then known as the South Pacific Commission) 1992–95, and was a deputy prime minister and home affairs minister in the government of Maxime Carlot Korman, leader of the Francophone Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), 1994–95.

Prior to independence, in 1980, Sokomanu served as a deputy chief minister and interior minister, when Vanuatu was known as the New Hebrides.