Samoa’s former prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, issued an apology after a video from 2007 resurfaced showing him giving a Nazi salute and uttering “Heil Hitler.” The clip, which appeared online earlier this week, prompted swift condemnation from the public and officials in the Pacific island nation.
The footage, recorded more than a decade ago, captures Tuilaepa raising his arm in the Nazi salute and delivering the infamous phrase. Media outlets reported that the video had been archived on a public platform before being highlighted by social‑media users, reigniting concerns over extremist symbolism.
In response, Tuilaepa said the video “does not reflect my beliefs” and expressed regret for the incident, adding that he apologised to Samoans and the broader community for any offense caused.
Samoa, an independent nation of about 200,000 people in the South Pacific, has a parliamentary democracy and has been led by Tuilaepa for more than two decades before being succeeded in 2021. The emergence of the video has sparked renewed discussion about historical sensitivities and the responsibilities of public figures.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
