A lockdown was declared Wednesday after more than 1,000 rioters gathered in Honiara, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare over foreign diplomatic issues. There was no word on what exactly sparked the outburst of violence and or why now. According to WaPo, dark black smoke filled the sky above Honiara on Thursday after rioters torched Parliament and several other government buildings.

Increasing discontent over Sogavare's unpopular switch of diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China in 2019 appears to be why rioters are upset this week. 

The situation continued to worsen as the prime minister made an emergency assistance request to neighboring Australia. About 120 soldiers and police officers from Australia will be arriving on Friday.