Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa (pronounced [afɪoŋa fɪameː naomɪ mataʔafa]; born 29 April 1957)[1] is a Samoan politician and High Chief (matai) who has served as the seventh Prime Minister of Samoa since 2021.

[4][5][6] Mataʻafa won a majority in the 2021 election, but defeated Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi refused to leave office, leading to the 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis.

However, in early 1977 Mataʻafa's studies were put on hold when she returned to Samoa to claim her late father's Matai title.

[14][13] Mataʻafa joined the HRPP in 1985 and was first elected to parliament that year,[15][16] representing the constituency of Lotofaga previously held by her mother.

[17] During the 1988 election, Mataʻafa initially lost re-election to her Lotofaga seat and came second but remained a member of parliament due to the controversial disqualification of the victor, Fata Siaosi.

[17] In March 2016, Mataʻafa was elected deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party, defeating Faumuina Tiatia Liuga in a caucus vote.

This subsequently showed the results for FAST and the HRPP tied with 25 seats each, and first term Independent MP Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio holding the balance of power.

Mataʻafa and FAST opposed fresh elections, stating that the decision "pre-empts" the Supreme Court ruling on the extra parliamentary seat scheduled for 5 May.

[42][43][44][45] From 24 May to 23 July 2021, her position as Prime Minister was disputed by Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi who refused to concede power and locked her out along with her party's MPs from entering the legislative building, despite the ruling of the Supreme Court of Samoa.

[54] Mataʻafa is Samoa's first female prime minister, and is also the nation's first head of government to not be a member of the HRPP since Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi left office in 1982.

Toelesulusulu was initially appointed as Minister of Natural Resources and Environment but resigned in June due to charges of driving while intoxicated.

[62] On 21 August, Mata'afa announced that the Attorney General along with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei would be suspended for two weeks.

[63][64] On 2 September, she announced that Savalenoa would be dismissed effective immediately, citing her failure to defend the judiciary from post election attacks.

[71] In early November 2021, the United Nation's office in Samoa recommended legalising abortion and same-sex marriage as part of a Universal periodic review for the UN Human Rights Council.

Mataʻafa subsequently stated that abortions and same-sex marriage were 'not on the government's agenda' and that it was the UN office, not her party, that had increased attention on these issues.

FAST chairman and deputy leader Polataivao shared this sentiment, expressing that these policies go against Samoa's 'culture and Christian beliefs'.

[72][73] In December 2021, Mataʻafa denounced the swearing-in of former electoral commissioner Faimalōmatumua Mathew Lemisio as deputy president of the Land and Titles Court (LTC) as illegal.

Despite this, the swearing-in went ahead, and LTC president Fepuleai Attila M. Ropati, who oversaw the ceremony, claimed that new appointments within the court are "made by God".

[74][75][76] In January 2025 agriculture minister and FAST chairman Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao was charged with ten criminal offences.

Lefau Harry Schuster, one of the dismissed members and an attorney, argued they could only depart from the party if they were to leave voluntarily or if a court upheld their expulsion.

During the tenure of former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, Mataʻafa warned that Australia's reluctance to increase action on climate change could potentially see a degradation of relations between Apia and Canberra.

[87] During the visit of Australian foreign minister Penny Wong in June 2022, Mataʻafa signed on to the "Tautua – Human Development for All" partnership.

[89] Before formally assuming office, Mataʻafa announced that she would scrap the previous government's plans to construct a new Chinese funded port.

[90] In late May 2022, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited Samoa and signed bilateral agreements with Fiamē.

Mataʻafa did not agree to the proposal describing it as 'abnormal' and said that no implementation of such an agreement should occur until countries of the Pacific Islands Forum met to examine it.

On 2 August, Ardern discussed issues of concern to New Zealand–Samoan bilateral relations including climate change, economic resilience, COVID-19, health and Samoan seasonal workers.

Still, the Melanesian and Polynesian countries refused to comply and instead supported their respective candidates, which resulted in former Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna emerging victorious.

Mataʻafa described the event as "unfortunate" but also reiterated, "when it became apparent that the North Pacific side of the family felt excluded, I think that was the message which was received by the rest of the leaders.

[111] Due to the full recovery of four COVID patients and no further reports of any additional cases, Mataʻafa declared on 11 February that the remaining restrictions imposed would be lifted, effective by that date.

[115] The following month, Mataʻafa allowed Samoan citizens to return and said that Samoa's international borders would fully re-open in August 2022.