Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa officially welcomed a new group of Samoan citizens in a ceremony held on Thursday, 24 April 2025, at the TATTE Convention Center. It was the first swearing-in ceremony since 2020.
Speaking at the event, Fiame acknowledged the long wait many had endured, largely due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted the processing of applications under the Citizenship Act 2004.
“Today is a defining moment in your path to citizenship,” Fiame said.
“It reflects your commitment, loyalty, and devotion to serve Samoa and her people.”
Some of the new citizens qualified through marriage to Samoan citizens, others through permanent residency. Fiame reminded the group that citizenship comes with responsibilities, including upholding the law, respecting others, and contributing to the good of Samoa.
“The Samoan citizenship is dear to us for it is our identity and freedom to live harmoniously and peacefully in our lands. But it comes with responsibility.”
A total of 39 individuals took the oath to become citizens of Samoa. They are:
| Albina Meredith | Alfred John Cowley | Anau Folola Tuvale |
| Chunchao Xue | Denis Charles Cusack | Amir Shahzad |
| Anam Zulfiqar Amir-Shahzad | Faryal Amir-Shahzad | Muhammad Rayan Amir-Shahzad |
| Anaya Amir-Shahzad | Bang Cao Ni | Chendi Ni |
| Yanrong Ni | Fereidoun Yazdani | Yassamin Yazdani |
| Francoise Jeanmaire Jenzen | Urs Wener Jenzer | Gavin Douglas Brightwell |
| Lurline Louise Anne Johnson-Brightwell | Josie Aloaina | Li Zeng |
| Marieiosefo Munivai Mora-Isara | Melody Aguilar Arevalo | Mohammed Fakruzzaman Talukder |
| Nazar Hussain | Paul Graeme Johnson | Peter James Reid |
| Qiongxiu Zeng | Raphel Semel | Raymie Snow |
| Richard Gibson | Sharon Michelle Winter | Shuping Chen |
| Xingwei Liu | Yanming Chen | Vijay Bansidhar Jashnani |
| Tanya Vijay Jashnani | Dhruv Vijay Jashnani | Zepeng Wu |
Fiame thanked the group for their contributions to Samoa in various sectors and encouraged them to continue serving with humility and integrity.
Photo: Leota Marc Membrere / SN
“We are duty bound to build a country where Samoans want to live in the future,” she said.
“Let us never lose sight of our duties as Samoan citizens, nor take for granted the trust of our fellow countrymen.”
She concluded by reaffirming Samoa’s foundation on Christian values, offering blessings to the new citizens and their families.
