Professor Narsey: Scrap RFMF's 'well-being' responsibility from Constitution

Professor Wadan Narsey called for the removal of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ (RFMF) constitutional responsibility for the country’s “well-being,” warning the provision fuels political interference and perpetuates Fiji’s coup culture.

Professor Narsey said Section 131(2) of the 2013 Constitution, which stated that it is the RFMF’s “overall responsibility... to ensure at all times the security, defence and well-being of Fiji and all Fijians,” should be removed from any new constitution.

He wrote to the Constitutional Review Commission that the provision had been cited during the counting of votes after the 2022 General Election and on several occasions since then by people across the political divide, who called on the military to intervene in the vote-counting and government formation process.

Professor Narsey said in his written submission to the CRC that such calls were unacceptable and undermined democratic processes.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for the RFMF to be used in this fashion in domestic politics, a recipe for the encouragement and continuation of coups and the coup culture.”

He urged the 2026 CRC to recommend removing the clause entirely.

Professor Narsey argued that the military’s constitutional role should be confined to national security and defence, rather than allowing any interpretation that could justify involvement in domestic political matters.

His comments came as submissions continue on constitutional reforms ahead of the CRC’s recommendations on a proposed new constitution.