Latest news in Kiribati? September 12th, 2026

The latest news and developments concerning Kiribati around September 12, 2026, include:

• World War II Ordnance Disposal on Betio: On September 10, 2026, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), collaborating with the Kiribati Police Service, completed a major operation to safely dispose of approximately 300 pieces of unexploded WWII munitions on Betio. Because several munitions had severely degraded inside Bonnyman’s Bunker, roughly 7,000 residents were evacuated while controlled detonations were carried out inside the bunker, with remaining items moved to an isolated sandbar for destruction. Islands Business
• Pacific Islands Forum Summit: At the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Palau earlier in September 2026, Kiribati was represented by senior diplomatic officials rather than its head of government, amid wider regional discussions focusing on Pacific security, regional unity, and international partnerships. National Indigenous Times
• Climate Resilience and Infrastructure: Kiribati continues its diplomatic and domestic focus on coastal adaptation and climate finance to counter rising sea levels and coastal erosion across its low-lying atolls.