Parliament (the Fono) reelects Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II as o le Ao o le Malo, the head of state. Nominated by Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, he was the only candidate. It is largely a ceremonial position and is traditionally held by one of the four Tama a 'Aiga paramount chiefs of the island.

8/6/21. Pacific Island Forum (Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga and Samoa attending, with Australia and New Zealand sitting in. Other members include Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Niue, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) opens with an address by US Pres Joe Biden, who urges the Federated States of Micronesia to rejoin the group, which boycotted over disagreement with the election of the Cook Islands’ Henry Puna as Secretary General, in contravention of traditional order. Fiji president Frank Bainimarama, attempted to make amends, with little success. Kausea Natano, prime minister of Tuvalu and departing chair of the PIF, points to the climate crisis as the greatest threat to the islands. It is a contentious issue for Australia, which has refused to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050. Biden commits US to net-zero emissions. Japan’s emission of polluted water from the Fukushima plant is also a concern.

The Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party asks the Supreme Court to recognize the impromptu swearing-in of newly elected officials because, according to party leader Naomi Mataʻafa, all other venues were blocked when her party was locked out of parliament. The Supreme Court had earlier rejected a similar petition but granted a review.

Locked out of parliament, Fiame is sworn in as prime minister in a tent outside the building. Her opponents say this is illegal.

A special session of the Supreme Court rules that the suspension of parliament. However Prime Minister Malielegaoi responded by saying that the court order was illegal, that the judges had breached State of Emergency regulations and ought to be charged, and that he and members of the HRPP would refuse to be sworn in when parliament convened. Parliament Speaker Leaupepe Toleafoa Fa'afisi announces in the evening that the House would not convene until a new proclamation had been made by the Head of State allowing it.

Head of State Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Saluavi II suspends seating of parliament without detailed explanation, but likely an effort to prevent the swearing in of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa scheduled for 5/24.

Head of State agrees to convene parliament.

Supreme Court overturns the 4/20 appointment of the HRPP member, giving FAST a 26-25 majority in parliament.

FAST begins court proceedings challenging the dissolution of parliament and calls of the 5/21 election.

Head of State Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Saluavi II dissolves parliament and orders a new election 5/21/21.

Independent legislator Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio announces he will join FAST, recreating the 26–26 deadlock.

Election commission rules that voting did not result in the required number of women in parliament and rules that an HRPP woman legislature must be seated, giving the HRPP control of parliament. FAST contests the ruling.

General election results in a tie between the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) led by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party led by former Deputy Prime Minister Sa’o Faapito Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. Both won 25 seats. Fiame says that her party will consider a coalition with the winner of the 51st seat, independent Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio. It is a stunning defeast for HRPP, which has led the country for decades, but the government became unpopular especially after the passage of laws that changed how lands and titles are passed on. Though there are no COVID-19 cases, the country is still under restrictions.

Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa resigns over changes to land and titles court. Prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegao evicts her from the Human Rights Party. Several other MPs have also resigned over the constitutional changes, including the former speaker of Parliament La'auli Leauatea Polataivao, who has since formed his own political party.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi says his country is "looking seriously at banning Facebook in the country" after "many people complained how it is used to hurt people", being himself a target of "defamation."

Samoa begins nationwide stay-at-home order.

Government bans travelers from China due to coronavirus outbreak.

Government lifts state of emergency regarding the measles outbreak.

Measles outbreak continuing at crisis level, with sixty dead and 4000 cases reported.

Government makes measles vaccination mandatory.

Government announces a state of emergency over measles epidemic, following Tonga and Fiji. More than two thousand cases have occurred in Samoa.

An assassination attempt against PM Tuilaepa A. A. Malielegaoi is foiled.