Who runs local government in Samoa?
Local government in Samoa is village government by chiefs. In each of nearly 300 traditional villages, the village fono (council of matai, or family chiefs) makes rules, keeps order and punishes offenders, with powers confirmed by the Village Fono Act 1990. Matai also dominate national politics: everyone over 21 can vote, but only matai can stand for parliament.
Independent State of Samoa · Unitary parliamentary republic · Oceania
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional villages (286 in the CLGF count) | Village fono of matai titleholders; matai titles are conferred by extended families | Village rules, peace and order, village development, sanctions such as fines. |
| Non-traditional (urban) villages (56, mostly around Apia) | Government representatives (sui o le malo) | Liaison with government where no traditional fono exists. |
| Village representative (pulenu'u, also called sui o le nu'u) | Chosen by the village and paid by government | Links each village with the ministry responsible for community affairs. |
Three questions about local power in Samoa
Are local leaders elected?
All adults elect parliament, but only matai can be candidates. Village fono are not elected; members hold family titles conferred by their families.
Which laws set up local government?
Village fono powers are recognised by the Village Fono Act 1990; matai titles and customary land are protected by the Constitution. Many details of village rules remain unwritten custom.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Fono answer to custom and to family groups that confer and can remove titles. Their decisions can be appealed to the Land and Titles Court or challenged in the ordinary courts. The ministry can suspend village representatives.
Traditional and customary authority
Matai are the elected or agreed heads of extended families (aiga) and hold family land on its behalf. About 80% of land is customary land, which cannot be sold. Disputes over matai titles and customary land go to the Land and Titles Courts, a separate court system set up by the Constitution. The village fono acts as lawmaker, executive and judge, and can impose fines or, in serious cases, order banishment, although courts have ruled that fono decisions must respect constitutional rights such as freedom of religion. Church ministers have great influence in every village.
Community and neighbourhood power
Each village has organised groups: the fono of matai, the women's committee, the untitled men (aumaga) who do much of the village work, and church groups. Women's committees run health and hygiene programmes and are recognised partners of government.
Points to know
- Universal suffrage was agreed in a 1990 referendum and first used in 1991; before that only matai could vote.
- There were 18,063 registered matai in the CLGF 2017–18 profile.
- Constitutional amendments in 2020 made the Land and Titles Courts a separate court system; this was one cause of the 2021 constitutional crisis.
- A reserved minimum of women MPs (at least 10%) applies, since few women hold matai titles.
Local terms
- Matai
- Chief or head of an extended family, holding a title conferred by the family.
- Fono
- Council or meeting; the village fono is the council of matai.
- Aiga
- Extended family.
Sources
- Constitution of Samoa 1962 (rev. 2025) (English text), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- The Local Government System in Samoa: Country Profile 2017–18, Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), checked 14 October 2026
See also: Samoa's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.