Samoa’s political crisis ends and first female prime minister installed after court ruling

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa was confirmed by Samoa's court of appeal to be the country's first female prime minister, ending the 22-year reign of the former leader

Samoa's months-long political crisis has been brought to a close and the Pacific nation has its first female prime minister after a ruling of the country's court of appeal this afternoon.

The Samoan court of appeal ruled that the Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party was the official winner of the national election in April and the ad hoc swearing-in ceremony held by the party out the front of parliament, when FAST MPs were denied entry to the building, was legitimate.