Solan Mirisim

Solan Mirisim
Minister of Department of Works and Highways
In office
August 24, 2022 – December 1, 2025
MonarchCharles III
Prime MinisterJames Marape
Preceded bySaki Soloma
Succeeded byPeter Tsiamalili Jnr.
Minister of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force
In office
December 2020 – June 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJames Marape
Preceded bySaki Soloma
Succeeded byWin Bakri Daki
In office
2017 – May 3, 2019
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterPeter O'Neill
Preceded byWilliam Onglo
Succeeded bySaki Soloma
Personal details
Born(1978-10-09)October 9, 1978
Telefomin, West Sepik, Papua New Guinea
DiedDecember 1, 2025(2025-12-01) (aged 47)
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Resting placeTelefomin
CitizenshipPapua New Guinea
PartyPangu Pati
Other political
affiliations		People's National Congress
ChildrenSeveral including Zollah
Alma materLae Business College
OccupationPolitician

Solan Mirisim (October 9, 1978 – December 1, 2025) was a Papua New Guinean politician and businessman who served as the Minister of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force from 2017 to 2019. And again from 2020 until his suspension in 2021. After his suspension, he served as the Minister of Department of Works and Highways from 2022 until his death.[1][2]

Early life and education

Solan was born on October 9, 1978 in Telefomin, West Sepik. He went to Telefomin Primary School and Telefomin High School before going to Lae and being educated at Lae Business College. He earned a certificate in Business Management.[3][4]

Political career

Solan began his political career when he was first affiliated with the People's National Congress Party (PNC) during the 2012 Papua New Guinean general election, where he received over 7,000 votes.[5]

During the 2017 Papua New Guinean general election, he represented as a PNC candidate. He later switched to the Pangu Pati sometime before the 2022 Papua New Guinean general election, where he represented the Telefomin district.[1]

Solan served as the Defence Minister for the Papua New Guinea Defence force from 2017 until he resigned on May 3, 2019.[6][7] Prior to his resignation, rumors about him resigning in April 2019 were claimed to be debunked. Claiming social media stories were fake.[8][9][10]

He later served again from December 2020 until June 2021 when he was suspended from his duties due to files revealing allegations of misconduct within office.[11] He also was fined K500 for misinformation regarding his wife and children.[12]

Following his suspension, he was appointed the Minister for Forestry until 2022 when he was appointed the Minister for Works and Highways by the Marape Government, and served from there.[13][14]

Foreign relations

Solan has maintained foreign relations with multiple nations. In May 2018, he went on a courtesy call with Japanese ambassador Satoshi Nakajima, where they had discussed mutual interests and cooperation within engineering.[15] In July 2018, he met the Chinese Defense Force Commander Gilbert Toropo and visited medical institutions.[16] In October 2024, Chinese ambassador Yang Xiaoguang met with Solan and discussed promoting stronger synergy along with deeping and improving practical cooperation between China and Papua New Guinea.[17][18]

Personal life and death

Solan has reported to have a wife along with several children including a daughter named Zollah Mirisim, who is 22 years old.[12][19]

Solan died in Port Moresby on December 1, 2025, after being rushed to the Port Moresby International Hospital,[a] where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He was 47.[20][21] The cause of death was speculated to be an illness he had developed prior.[3][4] Parliament Speaker Job Pomat announced his death during a parliament session the next day, and a coronial assessment for the death of Solan was issued by Prime Minister James Marape on December 3.[22]

A funeral service was held at Siomi Kami Church in Port Moresby on December 15, where he was laid in the Grand Hall of the National Parliament.[23][24] He went to Vanimo in his casket as a final visit.[25] He was then flown to his birthplace Telefomin,[26] where he was buried there.[27][28][29] He was succeeded by Peter Tsiamalili Jnr.[30]

Reactions

Several tributes were paid at Solan's funeral. Some made social media posts regarding Solan's death.[26]

Government official's reactions

  • Prime Minister James Marape was informed twice before arriving at the hospital.[31][b] He visited his funeral and later delivered a speech.[24][32] He later renamed a highway from Tabubil to Telefomin as the Mirisim Highway in memorial of him.[33]
  • The Governor of West Sepik Tony Wouwou gave his condolonces.[34] Stating that he had “integrity, humility, and dedication to his people”.[35]
  • Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah criticized people against Solan, and paid tributes.[36]

International reactions

  • The U.S Embassy in Papua New Guinea posted a social media post giving their condolences.
  • The RNZ marked Solan's death as one of the "unusual and destabilising periods" in the history of Papua New Guinea.[37]
  • The Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Ewen McDonald made a social media post regarding the death and gave their condolences.

Notes

  1. ^ Other sources indicate that he died at Pacific International Hospital via St John Ambulance
  2. ^ He was first informed at 12:30am. And again at 1:30am in the morning

References

  1. ^ a b "Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP - Eleventh Parliament of Papua New Guinea". www.parliament.gov.pg. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  2. ^ "Ministers". works.gov.pg. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  3. ^ a b Reporter, Staff. "PNG Mourns Another Parliamentary Leader as Minister Solan Passes". One Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  4. ^ a b "PNG LOST A CHAMPION NATIONALISTIC LEADER". works.gov.pg. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  5. ^ "Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP - Ninth Parliament of Papua New Guinea". www.parliament.gov.pg. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  6. ^ "Nine more MPs quit PNG government". RNZ. 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  7. ^ National, The (2025-12-31). "Mirisim clarifies resignation as minister | The National". Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  8. ^ pcAdminPNG (2019-04-12). "Solan Mirisim is still Defence Minister". Post Courier. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  9. ^ Stiefvater, James (December 11, 2020). "Papua New Guinea". The Contemporary Pacific. 32: 587–595 – via ISSN.
  10. ^ "Mirisim staying". The National. April 15, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  11. ^ pcAdminPNG (2021-06-17). "Misirim suspended to face leadership tribunal". Post Courier. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  12. ^ a b National, The (2025-12-31). "Mirisim fined K500 for giving wrong birth dates of wife, kids | The National". Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  13. ^ Reporter, Staff. "Minister Solan adds to PNG's String of recent Parliamentary Deaths". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  14. ^ "MINISTER FOR WORKS & HIGHWAYS PASSES AWAY". PNG Haus Bung. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  15. ^ "Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Minister for Defence, Hon. Mr. Solan Mirisim". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  16. ^ "Chinese naval hospital ship's humanitarian mission successfully concludes PNG stop - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  17. ^ "Chinese Ambassador to PNG Yang Xiaoguang Meets with Minister for Works and Highway Hon. Solan Mirisim". www.mfa.gov.cn. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  18. ^ "Chinese Ambassador to PNG H.E. Yang Xiaoguang met with Minister for Works and Highway Hon. Solan Mirisim". pg.china-embassy.gov.cn. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  19. ^ YALIM, VIVIANNE (2025-12-31). "Zollah speaks fondly of dad in tribute | The National". Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  20. ^ "Mirisim passes on". NBC PNG. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  21. ^ "Telefomin MP Solan Mirisim passes on, 8th MP lost in Parliament". NBC PNG. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  22. ^ National, The (2025-12-31). "PM directs doctors to conduct full coronial assessment into MP's death | The National". Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  23. ^ "FELLOW LEADERS SAY FAREWELL TO LATE MINISTER SOLAN". PNG Haus Bung. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  24. ^ a b Semese, Joel (December 15, 2025). "Prime Minister Marape Honours Late Works Minister Solan Mirisim, Hails Legacy of Connecting PNG's Most Isolated Communities". Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  25. ^ "Vanimo comes to a standstill as late Solan Mirisim returns home". NBC PNG. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  26. ^ a b "BODY OF LATE WORKS MINISTER SOLAN MIRISIM ARRIVES IN TELEFOMIN AS LEADERS PAY TRIBUTE". works.gov.pg. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  27. ^ National, The (2025-12-31). "Late Mirisim described as passionate | The National". Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  28. ^ KATI, SAMANTHA (2025-12-31). "Parliament farewells Mirisim | The National". Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  29. ^ "State hands over body of late minister Mirisim". NBC PNG. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  30. ^ KUKU, REBECCA (2026-01-15). "Marape reshuffles cabinet. Tsiamalili reassigned to Works and Highways ministry as Sir John takes over Police ministry | The National". Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  31. ^ "PM saddened over Mirisim's passing". tvwan.com.pg. December 12, 2025. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  32. ^ "Prime Minister Marape Honours Late Works Minister Solan Mirisim, Hails Legacy of Connecting PNG's Most Isolated Communities". The PNG Bulletin. 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  33. ^ "PNG PM Marape Honours Late Telefomin MP Solan Mirisim, Names Highway After Him". December 20, 2025. p. 16. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  34. ^ postcourieronline (2025-12-02). "West Sepik Governor pays tribute to Late Minister Solan Mirisim". Post Courier. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  35. ^ "West Sepik mourns passing of Telefomin MP". NBC PNG. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  36. ^ National, The (2026-01-02). "West Sepik receives, pays tribute to Mirisim | The National". Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  37. ^ Waide, Scott (2025-12-04). "PNG confronts unprecedented wave of parliamentary deaths". RNZ. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
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