Epeli Nailatikau, the Fijian military officer and politician who served as president of Fiji, died on March 26, 2026.
He held the presidency from 2009 to 2015 and was vice-president in 2009. From 2001 to 2006, he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, and he later held ministerial posts including interim foreign affairs and external trade, provincial development and multi-ethnic affairs, and indigenous affairs.
Nailatikau also had a long career in Fiji‘s military, diplomatic service and government.
Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, CF, LVO, OBE, MSD, KStJ (5 July 1941 – 26 March 2026), often referred to as Na Turaga Mai Naisogolaca, was a Fijian chief who was President of Fiji from 2009 to 2015. He had a long career in the Military, diplomatic service, and government. From 2001 to 2006 he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives – the lower and more powerful chamber of the Fijian Parliament. He was also the chairman of the Parliamentary Appropriations Committee and of the House Committee. On 8 January 2007, he was appointed the interim Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade; he was moved to the post of interim Minister for Provincial Development and Multi-Ethnic Affairs in September 2008. In October 2008, he became Indigenous Affairs Minister “and effectively Great Council of Chiefs chairman”. On 17 April 2009, he was appointed Vice-President by the military government.