When Rini was forced to resign in the face of public protests and a motion of no confidence, Forau supported his successor Manasseh Sogavare, and was appointed Minister for Health and Medical Services.

[2] He held this position until December 2007, when Prime Minister Sogavare was himself ousted in a vote of no confidence and Derek Sikua named a new Cabinet.

The latter was "relieved of his ministerial duties on medical grounds" after being hospitalized in Australia and placed on life support.

[12] On 9 November 2011, he resigned and joined the Opposition, as part of a mass defection which brought down the Philip government two days later.

[13][14] Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister on 16 November, and reappointed Forau to his previous position five days later.