Civic space in Samoa is rated as ‘open’ by the CIVICUS Monitor. However, there have been concerns about criminal defamation charges brought against critics, intimidation of the media and challenges for journalists in accessing state information.
On 29th August 2025, Samoa headed to the polls in a general election following months of political instability. A total of 187 candidates were vying for 51 parliamentary seats, representing six political parties and 46 independents.
The snap election was triggered by a split in the governing Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, which led to the caretaker government, now led by Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, failing to pass its budget. Mata'afa has since formed a new party, the Samoa United Party (SUP), which is contesting the election with 26 candidates.
The governing FAST party, is now led by La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata'ivao Schmidt while the main opposition Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), is led by former Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.
At the time of writing, The FAST party had won 31 of 51 parliamentary seats, positioning them to lead the next government.
Expression
Journalist charged with criminal defamation
Lagi Keresoma, a veteran Samoan journalist and president of the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa (JAWS), was charged with criminal defamation under Samoa's Crimes Act 2013 in May 2025.
The charge stems from an article she published on 1st May 2025 alleging that a former police officer sought to have criminal charges against him withdrawn by appealing to the Head of State. The former officer, who denies the allegations, filed a complaint claiming the article was false and defamatory.
Keresoma was charged on 18th May 2025 with one count of defamation under Section 117A of Samoa’s Crimes Act 2013. According to Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, the officer filed a complaint over the article, claiming its contents were false and amounted to defamation. The former police officer is currently before the Supreme Court of Samoa, facing two forgery charges linked to a loan application, allegations he denies.
In response, both the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) have issued strong condemnations, calling for the charges to be dropped and for the repeal of the country's criminal defamation law. They argue that this legal provision is being used to silence independent journalism and that defamation claims should be handled through civil, not criminal, avenues. This incident has raised serious concerns about press freedom in Samoa and has been criticised by various media groups as an attempt to suppress critical reporting.
JAWS also called on the government to urgently review and repeal criminal defamation laws that “undermine democratic accountability and public trust in the system.” It added that “the continued application of criminal defamation in Samoa contradicts international standards and poses a chilling threat to press freedom, particularly for women journalists who already face systemic risks and intimidation.”
As previously documented, under the criminal libel law in section 117(A) of the Crimes Act 2013, a person found guilty of violating this law faces a three-month prison term.
Such a law is inconsistent with the consensus that has grown in recent years in support of the decriminalisation of defamation. In General Comment 34, the UN Human Rights Committee urged states to decriminalise defamation and called on those retaining criminal defamation provisions to ensure that they do not carry the threat of imprisonment. Human rights courts, international and regional human rights bodies, and human rights mandate-holders have similarly called for the repeal and reform of criminal defamation provisions.