The unstable situation has its origins in the migration of Malatians to the larger island of Guadalcanal and their subsequent economic success. The native Guadalcanal islanders resented this and these resentments grew to the point of armed and organized violence.

With new outbreaks of violence, nearby Fiji and Vanuatu offered to send police to help with the situation. The British Commonwealth was asked to provide France also offered money to resettle the Malaitans.

For most of 1999, some Solomon islanders have formed into armed groups to kill and terrorize migrants from the nearby island of Malita. Fiji politician Sitiveni Rabuka arranged a cease fire in late June, but the Isiantabu Freedom Fighters (IFF) would not accept the terms. In early July the IFF again went on the offensive against the Malaita migrants. While fewer than twenty people have been killed, there have been thousands of refugees fleeing the areas under attack.