| Honorific-Prefix: | The Right Honourable |
| Clay Forau Soalaoi | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
| Office: | Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade |
| Primeminister: | Gordon Darcy Lilo |
| Term Start: | 27 February 2012 |
| Term End: | 2014 |
| Predecessor: | Peter Shannel Agovaka |
| Successor: | Milner Tozaka |
| Office2: | Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services |
| Primeminister2: | Gordon Darcy Lilo |
| Term Start2: | 21 November 2011 |
| Term End2: | 27 February 2012 |
| Predecessor2: | himself (prior to resignation) |
| Successor2: | David Tome |
| Office3: | Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services |
| Primeminister3: | Danny Philip |
| Term Start3: | 18 April 2011 |
| Term End3: | 9 November 2011 |
| Predecessor3: | James Tora |
| Successor3: | himself (after 12-day vacancy) |
| Office4: | Minister for Health and Medical Services |
| Primeminister4: | Manasseh Sogavare |
| Term Start4: | 5 May 2006 |
| Term End4: | 21 December 2007 |
| Office5: | Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs |
| Term Start5: | 22 April 2006 |
| Term End5: | 5 May 2006 |
| Primeminister5: | Snyder Rini |
| Office6: | Leader of the Independent Members |
| Term Start6: | 30 August 2010 |
| Term End6: | 7 April 2011 |
| Constituency Mp7: | Temotu Vatud |
| Term Start7: | 5 April 2006 |
| Predecessor7: | Hudson Teava Rangissearofa |
| Birth Date: | 10 October 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Namo Village, Tikopia |
| Party: | Social Credit Party, then People's Federation Party |
Clay Forau Soalaoi, more commonly referred to as Clay Forau, (born 10 October 1976[1]) is a Solomon Islands politician.
He was first elected to Parliament, representing the Temotu Vatud constituency, at the 2006 general election, in April. From 22 April to 5 May, he served briefly as Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, under Prime Minister Snyder Rini. When Rini was forced to resign in the face of public protests and a motion of no confidence, Forau supported his successor Manasseh Sogavare, and was appointed Minister for Health and Medical Services. He was also a member of Sogavare's Social Credit Party.[2] He held this position until December 2007, when Prime Minister Sogavare was himself ousted in a vote of no confidence and Derek Sikua named a new Cabinet.[3] [4]
In January 2008, he was appointed chairman of the Constitution Review Committee.[5]
In June 2009, Forau replaced Martin Magga as Minister for Health and Medical Services. The latter was "relieved of his ministerial duties on medical grounds" after being hospitalized in Australia and placed on life support.[6]
Retaining his seat in the August 2010 general election, in which he stood as a member of the People's Federation Party,[7] he nonetheless lost his seat in Cabinet. Rather than join the Opposition, he was elected Leader of the Independent Members of Parliament on 30 August.[8] In early April 2011, however, he relinquished this position to join the ranks of the government.[9] [10] [11] Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services.[12]
On 9 November 2011, he resigned and joined the Opposition, as part of a mass defection which brought down the Philip government two days later.[13] [14] Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister on 16 November, and reappointed Forau to his previous position five days later.[15]
On 9 February 2012, Lilo sacked Peter Shannel Agovaka as Foreign Minister, for having publicly raised the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations with Russia without awaiting Lilo's approval. On 27 February, Lilo appointed Forau in his place.[16]