The former Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Francis Billy Hilly, has been appointed to lead the Melanesian Spearhead Group's observer mission for Vanuatu's snap elections.
The mission was established at short notice following a request from Vanuatu to the MSG's current chair, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
It will be drawn from the MSG's member states, including the FLNKS movement in New Caledonia.
Vanuatu is the second country the MSG will send an observer mission to; the first was Fiji's elections in 2014.