Hon. Tu'a Taumoepeau-Tupou takes up Defence portfolio [1]
Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 17:50. Updated on Thursday, August 14, 2014 - 09:30.
Hon. Sonatane Tu'akinamalohi Taumoepeau Tupou, Tonga's Minister of Foreign Affairs, was appointed as the Acting Minister of Defence on Friday April 22, 2005.
Mr Taumoepeau Tupou was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs by King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV on September 2, 2004.
In 2000-04 he was Tonga's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to the United States of America, and concurrently accredited as High Commissioner to Canada.
The latest appointment for Mr Taumoepeau Tupou follows the sudden death of the former Minister of Defence, Colonel 'Aloua Fetu'utolu Tupou on April 16. They were first cousins.