Sonatane Tuʻa Taumoepeau-Tupou

Who was Sonatane Tuʻa Taumoepeau-Tupou?

Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumopeau Tupou was a diplomat from the Kingdom of Tonga. He had been the Foreign Minister of Tonga since 24 August 2004, though his appointment was not announced until 2 September 2004. He has also been Minister of Defense since April 2005.

He is Tonga's third Foreign Minister after His Royal Highness George Tupou V and most recently His Royal Highness Prince ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho. He is a career diplomat. He had previously been Tonga's first ambassador to the United Nations after Tonga joined the United Nations in September 1999. During his tenure at the United Nations he was also accredited as Tonga's Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner to Canada.

On May 1, 2009, he relinquished his position as a Cabinet Minister, in order to take up more diplomatic positions.