Papua New Guinea

Monthly Event Reports GSOD Indices

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a lower-middle income country that exhibits mid-range performance across all categories of the GSoD framework, although its performance in Representation, Rights and Rule of Law is on the lower end of the middle range band. It falls within the top 25 per cent of countries in the world with regard to Freedom of Religion and Electoral Participation but within the bottom 25 percent with regard to Basic Welfare, Political Equality, Gender Equality, and Absence of Corruption. Between 2017 and 2022, there was a rise in the Freedom of Expression factor and a fall in Freedom of Movement and Absence of Corruption. The country is made up of a mainland and 600 islands, with an economy that primarily depends on the agricultural, forestry and fishing sectors as well as the minerals and energy extraction sectors. Over 80 per cent of the population is rural and dependent on semi-subsistence agriculture. Its high rural poverty rate has threatened indigenous languages, with more young people turning towards the official national languages to escape poverty.

Present-day Papua New Guinea was settled over a period of 40,000 years by the Melanesian people. The country was then subject to European and Australian rule from the late 1800s until 1975. Post-colonial politics in PNG has been dominated by a debate over sovereignty, rooted in issues concerning land ownership, the place of customary laws, and the role of extractive industries. Successive governments have been characterized by instability and party politics based on personality and resources of leaders, rather than ideology or policy, culminating in a constitutional crisis in 2011. The impacts of mining, including environmental damage, land disputes and increased social problems, have resulted in prolonged periods of conflict and violence. A high incidence of tribal violence, particularly in the Highlands, is rooted in high rates of youth unemployment. In addition, from 1989 to 1998, separatist forces in Bougainville rebelled over questions of self-determination and land ownership stemming from the operation of an enormous, environmentally destructive copper mine. A peace agreement led to regional autonomy in 2001, and in 2021 the central government promised Bougainville independence in 2027. While Papua New Guinea is the most ethno-linguistically diverse country in the world, the impacts of ethnic violence are mostly felt on the local level and rarely pose a threat to the national government.

Systemic corruption has also been rampant in the public service, leading to violence and a lack of independence and integrity in elections, with the 2022 elections illustrating the worst violence to date. Concerning also has been the persistently poor representation of women in politics as well as the high levels of gender-based violence against women, despite longstanding efforts by civil society and an increased political commitment seen in recent years to tackle the issue, including through strengthening the justice system.

In the years ahead, it will be important to watch the Absence of Corruption indicator, particularly in light of legislative developments and commitments that aim to tackle corruption. Moreover, Representation should continue to be watched as a result of recent election violence and other irregularities. The current government’s focus on foreign investment in resource projects, including gold mining, also has the potential to impact inter-group relations.

August 2023 | Violence engulfs highlands region

A wave of violence between the Mupapalu and Nenei tribes in Enga Province over a land dispute has claimed around 150 lives and left thousands displaced in the month of August, although the lack of official infrastructure in the region and limited police presence means the total scale of the violence remains unclear. While tribes have historically used regulated forms of combat to settle grievances in parts of Papua New Guinea, local police say the latest wave of violence is unique due to a flood of weapons and mercenaries into the region. The International Committee for the Red Cross credited “the breaking down of traditional hierarchies and rules, the loss of some traditional values such as respect for women and children, and an influx of modern weapons” with the severity of the violence.

Security Civil Unrest

June 2023 | Government-Bougainville independence talks at a standstill

The government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville accused the national government of obstructing the region’s agreed-upon path to independence on 25 June. The national government has promised to take up the results of a 2019 Bougainville referendum in which over 97 per cent of voters voted for independence. While the national government argues it is within the power of parliament to accept or reject the result under the terms of the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement, and that granting the autonomous region independence requires a two-thirds-majority, the region’s government argues that parliament can only endorse the results and must grant the region independence between 2025 and 2027. The two governments remain at an impasse, with concerns that a parliamentary vote without proper preparations could lead to a clear “no” vote.

Referendum Bougainville

March 2023 | Bribery investigation sparks state probe

Prime Minister James Marape announced an internal government probe in response to a joint Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and Australian Broadcasting Corporation investigation into the state-owned ports company. The investigation documented millions of dollars of payments to an Australian consultant from the winning bidder for lucrative contracts. The consultant then used the money to finance personal expenses of the senior officials at the ports company. Marape admitted to having played golf with the consultant but denied significant knowledge of his background or business.

James Marape Money in Politics

December 2022 | Population mystery raises governance questions

An unpublished study by the United Nations Population Fund suggested Papua New Guinea’s population may be twice the official number of 9.4 million. Prime Minister James Marape suggested the number was more likely between 9 and 11 million but did not know the precise size of the population. Experts quoted in media reports were not convinced the UN figure was accurate but agreed that a new census was needed to ensure that millions of citizens were not being denied access to key services or the right to vote. The country’s next census is scheduled for 2024.

Population Census