Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio has conveyed that Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is presently recuperating at her residence and has not yet resumed her official duties. 

In response to queries by the Samoa Observer over the weekend, Tuala affirmed that Prime Minister Fiame is making a satisfactory recovery. 

He mentioned that he visited her at home on Friday.

"She's recovering well at home," Tuala said. 

"She's relying on how she feels then she will be back at work. But she is doing well."

Tuala further explained that since the Prime Minister is currently in the country, he has ceased his function as the Acting Prime Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Tuala confirmed in a previous interview with this newspaper that Prime Minister Fiame had undergone a successful surgical procedure. 

The Prime Minister left the country soon after the signing of the Samoa Agreement with the European Union on November 15. She then attended a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

According to a statement released by the Government, the meeting was attended by leaders of Commonwealth countries to discuss issues concerning their country and matters at the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that Samoa will be hosting in October next year. 

Fiame also attended COP28 in Dubai alongside the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, and a delegation from Samoa. Images from COP28 showed that Fiame was in a wheelchair and later flew to New Zealand.

She met with New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon followed by a brief encounter with New Zealand's new Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

She then underwent a surgical procedure in New Zealand.

She missed out on the last parliament session of 2023 and is likely to also miss the first session of this year which takes place on Tuesday.