Fiji Military to Lead National Readiness Drill 'Exercise Bougainville 2026'

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is set to lead a comprehensive three-week national exercise, Exercise Bougainville 2026, from August 7 to 28. This drill will involve approximately 660 personnel from seven government agencies, including the Fiji Police Force, Ministry of Health, and National Fire Authority, with support from defense partners Australia and New Zealand.

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The strategic intent has never deviated from what we had began with in February, essentially to validate the RFMF’s readiness to support an inter-agency or joint crisis response to a multi-agency coordination framework.

The exercise's primary objective is to validate the military's readiness to support a coordinated national response to major emergencies. Captain Seci Nawalowalo, the RFMF Exercise Bougainville lead planner, stated that the exercise will test the RFMF's ability to support an inter-agency crisis response within a multi-agency coordination framework.

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This will see the initiation of the exercise through the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief platform, which is an inter-agency response to a tropical cyclone.

Following a six-month planning process, the exercise will commence with a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario simulating a tropical cyclone. It will then progress to address civil unrest, insurgency, terrorism, and maritime incursion threats. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe emphasized that the drill will strengthen coordination between the military, police, and other government bodies, highlighting their shared responsibility in managing national challenges.

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We are of the same responsibility with the military and also other government agencies for the coordination in terms of our release, in line with the natural disasters and other natural challenges that usually challenge our role.

Acting Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Mitieli Cama noted that the exercise is crucial for identifying existing gaps in Fiji's emergency response systems and inter-agency coordination processes. The exercise will officially open at Queen Elizabeth Barracks on August 7 and conclude with a ceremony at Black Rock, Nadi, on August 26.

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We are looking forward to this exercise to identify those gaps in the systems and processes, particularly when it comes to coordination with line agencies.