Independence movements

History of Bougainville’s independence movement and peace process

From secessionist politics in the late 1960s and the 1975 declaration, through the 1988–1997 conflict and the 2001 Peace Agreement, to autonomy, the 2019 referendum and the 2026 ratification debate.

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The island and the road to 1975

Bougainville is a large island north-east of New Guinea and north-west of the Solomon Islands, with Buka the largest of its surrounding islands; sixteen Austronesian and nine Papuan languages are spoken there.[1][2]

In 1964 a large copper and gold deposit was found near the centre of the island, later developed by Bougainville Copper Limited.[3] Later in the decade secessionist politics took organised form: the Mungkas Society was founded in Port Moresby in 1968 and the movement Napidakoe Navitu won a large following in central Bougainville in 1969.[4] As Papua New Guinea approached independence from Australia in 1975, there was agitation for Bougainville not to become part of it.[5]

The 1975 declaration

Negotiations in 1974 produced an Interim Provincial Government for Bougainville. In September 1975 it declared independence unilaterally, and the PNG National Parliament suspended it the next month.[6] A 1976 settlement created a permanent provincial government with some credible powers and resources, though Braithwaite and colleagues note that promises of further devolution were mostly not honoured.[7]

· Declaration

Bougainville declaration of independence, 1975

Bougainville’s Interim Provincial Government declared independence unilaterally shortly before Papua New Guinea became independent; the national parliament suspended it.

Panguna and the conflict, 1988–1997

A new generation of landowners, led by Francis Ona and Perpetua Serero, formed the New Panguna Landowners’ Association in 1987 and went on to launch the Bougainville Revolutionary Army as an island-wide uprising.[8] Violence closed the Panguna mine in May 1989, and by 1989 the PNG government was dealing with a crisis in what was then the North Solomons Province.[9][10]

In 1990 the PNG government withdrew its forces and officials and imposed a blockade that also cut off medical supplies.[11] On 17 May 1990 the BRA and its Bougainville Interim Government declared the Republic of Me’ekamui, but the declared republic inherited almost nothing of a working state.[12][13]

Braithwaite and colleagues describe a civil war, for many aimed at independence, that lasted from 1988 to 1997.[14]

· Conflict episode

Bougainville conflict, 1988–1997

An armed conflict that began around the Panguna mine, closed it in 1989 and lasted until a truce in 1997.

Truce, ceasefire and the 2001 Peace Agreement

Talks at the Burnham military base in New Zealand in July 1997 brought Bougainville factions together, and a second round with PNG leaders in October 1997 produced a truce. A conference at Lincoln University in January 1998 consolidated a ceasefire.[16][17]

The Bougainville Peace Agreement, signed at Arawa on 30 August 2001, rests on three pillars: autonomy, a referendum on Bougainville’s future political status, and weapons disposal.[18][19] It promised a constitutionally guaranteed referendum including separate independence as a choice, to be held 10 to 15 years after the first autonomous government was elected, and made the outcome subject to ratification by the National Parliament.[20][21][22]

· Agreement

Bougainville Peace Agreement, 2001

The Government of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville leaders agreed on autonomy, a deferred referendum on Bougainville’s future political status and weapons disposal.

Building autonomous institutions

The PNG Defence Force withdrew in 2001 and the PNG Parliament passed jointly drafted constitutional laws in 2002; key terms of the Agreement now sit in Part XIV of the PNG Constitution, with a Joint Supervisory Body of both governments.[23][24]

A Constitution of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville was adopted in November 2004, and the Autonomous Bougainville Government was established in 2005 after an election won by Joseph Kabui.[25][26] The staged weapons disposal process was completed in May 2005.[27]

The 2019 referendum

The Agreement’s timetable required the vote by mid-2020.[28] The two governments later stated that the conditions on weapons disposal and good governance had been met.[29]

The Bougainville Referendum Commission, chaired by Bertie Ahern, offered two options, Greater Autonomy and Independence, and told voters the result would be non-binding.[30][31][32] Before the vote the governments agreed a definition of independence that included international recognition, a defined territory and UN membership.[33]

Polling ran from 23 November to 7 December 2019. The Commission declared 176,928 votes for Independence and 3,043 for Greater Autonomy out of 181,067 ballot papers counted, and described turnout as at least 85 per cent.[34][35][36] The governments later recorded the vote as free and fair, and the Commission’s report was unanimously endorsed by both parliaments.[37][38]

Consultations and the ratification debate, 2021–2026

In January 2021 the two governments opened joint consultations on the outcome, affirming that ratification is for the National Parliament.[39] RNZ reported that in 2025 they signed a Melanesian Agreement committing them to collaboration and constitutional integrity in the process.[40]

In June 2026 Parliament adopted a sessional order requiring a three-quarters majority, at least 89 of 118 MPs, to ratify the result.[41][42] Bougainville’s leaders said this had not been agreed and breached the Melanesian Agreement; Prime Minister James Marape said both sides had agreed it.[43][44]

The ABG then set out its own pathway: self-government from 1 September 2027 and independence in 2030.[45] PNG’s ruling PANGU Party offered a conditional 15-year transition whatever Parliament decided.[46] In early August the Joint Supervisory Body endorsed the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework, and on 27 August 2026 the result was tabled in Parliament, which adjourned without a vote.[47][48]

How the case is interpreted

The sources consulted treat the referendum as one stage of a negotiated peace process rather than a decision on statehood in itself. The Agreement links the vote to autonomy and weapons disposal and leaves the final decision to the National Parliament, and Levy and colleagues relate the long timetable to the needs of peacebuilding.[19][22][28]

Reporting in 2026 highlights the economic side of the debate, including Marape’s emphasis on self-reliance and the future of the Panguna mine.[49][46]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: Bougainville is a large island north-east of the island of New Guinea and north-west of the Solomon Islands, surrounded by smaller islands of which the largest is Buka.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 9. Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: Sixteen Austronesian and nine non-Austronesian (Papuan) languages are spoken on Bougainville.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 9. Source record Citing Tryon (2005).
  3. 3.

    Claim: A large copper and gold deposit was discovered near the centre of Bougainville in 1964 and developed by Bougainville Copper Limited, whose principal investor was Conzinc Riotinto Australia.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 12. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: In 1968 Bougainvillean students, public servants and politicians in Port Moresby formed the Mungkas Society, which became a crucible of secessionist thought, and in 1969 the secessionist movement Napidakoe Navitu gained a large following in central Bougainville.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 12. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: Papua New Guinea became independent from Australia in 1975; in the years before, there had been agitation for Bougainville not to become part of Papua New Guinea.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 9. Source record
  6. 6.

    Claim: After 1974 negotiations with Michael Somare’s government produced an Interim Provincial Government, that body declared Bougainville independent unilaterally in September 1975; the PNG National Parliament suspended it the following month.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 13. Source record
    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 16. Source record Full name of Michael Somare.
  7. 7.

    Claim: In 1976 Somare settled the dispute by agreeing to a permanent provincial government with some credible powers and resources; promises of further devolution were mostly not honoured. Attributed to Braithwaite, Charlesworth, Reddy and Dunn (2010)

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 13. Source record
  8. 8.

    Claim: A new generation of landowners led by Francis Ona and Perpetua Serero formed the New Panguna Landowners’ Association in 1987; by early 1989 it had launched the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) as a Bougainville-wide uprising led by Ona.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 19. Source record
  9. 9.

    Claim: Violence forced the closure of the Panguna mine in May 1989, a severe setback for Papua New Guinea’s economy.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 20. Source record
  10. 10.

    Claim: In 1989 the PNG government appointed a Special Committee on the Crisis in the North Solomons Province.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 26. Source record
  11. 11.

    Claim: In 1990 the PNG government withdrew its security forces, police and public servants from Bougainville and imposed a blockade that also cut off medical supplies.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, pp. 27–28. Source record
  12. 12.

    Claim: On 17 May 1990 the BRA and its Bougainville Interim Government declared Bougainville independent as the Republic of Me’ekamui, with Francis Ona as President and Joseph Kabui as Vice-President.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 28. Source record
  13. 13.

    Claim: Braithwaite and colleagues note that the declared republic did not inherit a functioning state: little of the old administration was left after the PNG withdrawal. Attributed to Braithwaite, Charlesworth, Reddy and Dunn (2010)

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, pp. 28–29. Source record
  14. 14.

    Claim: Braithwaite and colleagues describe a civil war that, for many of those involved, was aimed at independence, breaking out in 1988 and continuing to 1997. Attributed to Braithwaite, Charlesworth, Reddy and Dunn (2010)

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 9. Source record
  15. 15.

    Claim: Estimates of deaths in the conflict differ widely. Braithwaite and colleagues call the widely publicised figures of 15,000 to 20,000 baseless, treat Anthony Regan’s estimate of perhaps several thousand deaths (some hundreds in fighting, more from extrajudicial killings, and an unknown number linked to the blockade) as the most authoritative, and themselves code 1,000–2,000 conflict deaths. Disputed — see the text for the competing accounts

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, pp. 86–87. Source record Quoting Regan (2005).
  16. 16.

    Claim: Talks at the Burnham military base in New Zealand in July 1997 brought Bougainville factions together; a second round with PNG leaders in October 1997 produced a truce.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, pp. 46 and 48. Source record
  17. 17.

    Claim: A peace conference at Lincoln University, New Zealand, in January 1998 consolidated a ceasefire described as permanent and irrevocable.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, pp. 48 and 52. Source record
  18. 18.

    Claim: The Bougainville Peace Agreement was signed at Arawa on 30 August 2001 by the Government of Papua New Guinea and leaders representing the people of Bougainville.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Leaders representing the people of Bougainville, Bougainville Peace Agreement (United Nations Security Council, 23 October 2001) link, PDF pp. 5 and 11–12. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  19. 19.

    Claim: The Agreement has three pillars: autonomy, a referendum on Bougainville’s future political status, and a weapons disposal plan.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Leaders representing the people of Bougainville, Bougainville Peace Agreement (United Nations Security Council, 23 October 2001) link, Introduction and outline, PDF p. 12. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  20. 20.

    Claim: The National Government undertook to amend the National Constitution to guarantee a referendum on Bougainville’s future political status, with separate independence among the choices.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Leaders representing the people of Bougainville, Bougainville Peace Agreement (United Nations Security Council, 23 October 2001) link, clauses 309–310, PDF p. 69. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  21. 21.

    Claim: The referendum was to be held no earlier than 10 and no later than 15 years after the election of the first autonomous Bougainville Government, taking account of weapons disposal and good governance.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Leaders representing the people of Bougainville, Bougainville Peace Agreement (United Nations Security Council, 23 October 2001) link, clause 312, PDF p. 69. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  22. 22.

    Claim: Under the Agreement the referendum outcome is subject to ratification (final decision-making authority) of the National Parliament, and the two governments are to consult over the results.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Leaders representing the people of Bougainville, Bougainville Peace Agreement (United Nations Security Council, 23 October 2001) link, clause 311, PDF p. 69. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  23. 23.

    Claim: The PNG Defence Force withdrew in 2001, and constitutional laws implementing the Agreement, drafted jointly, were passed by the PNG Parliament in 2002.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, p. 56. Source record
  24. 24.

    Claim: Part XIV of the PNG Constitution enshrines key terms of the Agreement, and the Joint Supervisory Body is a constitutionally mandated forum of representatives of both governments.

    • Levy, Ron; Simpson, Amelia; O’Flynn, Ian and Flaherty, Georgina, Designing Referendums for Peacemaking: The Case of Bougainville, Australasian Parliamentary Review (Australasian Study of Parliament Group, 2018) link, p. 13. Source record
  25. 25.

    Claim: A Constitution of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville was drafted between 2002 and 2004 by a representative commission and adopted by the Bougainville Constituent Assembly in November 2004.

    • Levy, Ron; Simpson, Amelia; O’Flynn, Ian and Flaherty, Georgina, Designing Referendums for Peacemaking: The Case of Bougainville, Australasian Parliamentary Review (Australasian Study of Parliament Group, 2018) link, p. 12. Source record
  26. 26.

    Claim: An Autonomous Bougainville Government was established within Papua New Guinea in 2005, after an election in which Joseph Kabui became President.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, pp. 9 and 56. Source record
    • Levy, Ron; Simpson, Amelia; O’Flynn, Ian and Flaherty, Georgina, Designing Referendums for Peacemaking: The Case of Bougainville, Australasian Parliamentary Review (Australasian Study of Parliament Group, 2018) link, p. 12. Source record
  27. 27.

    Claim: The three stages of the agreed weapons disposal process were completed in May 2005; by then 1,900 weapons had been destroyed and the UN observer mission had certified that the third stage was complete.

    • Braithwaite, John; Charlesworth, Hilary; Reddy, Peter and Dunn, Leah, Reconciliation and Architectures of Commitment (ANU E Press, 2010), ISBN 9781921666681 link, pp. 62–63. Source record
  28. 28.

    Claim: The time window set by the Agreement meant the referendum had to be held by mid-2020; Levy and colleagues relate its length to the need for peacebuilding and weapons disposal before the vote. Attributed to Levy, Simpson, O’Flynn and Flaherty (2018)

    • Levy, Ron; Simpson, Amelia; O’Flynn, Ian and Flaherty, Georgina, Designing Referendums for Peacemaking: The Case of Bougainville, Australasian Parliamentary Review (Australasian Study of Parliament Group, 2018) link, p. 12. Source record
  29. 29.

    Claim: The two governments’ Joint Communique states that the constitutional guarantee of the referendum depended on the ABG meeting conditions on weapons disposal and good governance, which it had satisfactorily met. Attributed to Governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville (2021)

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  30. 30.

    Claim: The referendum was conducted by the Bougainville Referendum Commission, an independent body established by the two governments and chaired by the former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern.

    • Bougainville Referendum Commission, Bougainville Referendum Commission fact sheet 1 (Bougainville Referendum Commission, File placed in the website’s May 2019 upload folder) link, PDF p. 1. Source record
    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  31. 31.

    Claim: Voters were offered two options: option 1, Greater Autonomy, and option 2, Independence.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
    • Bougainville Referendum Commission, Bougainville Referendum Commission (website home page) (Bougainville Referendum Commission) link, results panel. Source record
  32. 32.

    Claim: Before the vote the Commission told voters that the referendum offered a choice between independence from Papua New Guinea and greater autonomy within it, and that the result would be non-binding.

    • Bougainville Referendum Commission, Bougainville Referendum Commission fact sheet 1 (Bougainville Referendum Commission, File placed in the website’s May 2019 upload folder) link, PDF p. 2. Source record
  33. 33.

    Claim: Before the vote the two governments agreed that independence meant an independent nation with sovereign powers and laws, recognised under international law and by other states as separate from Papua New Guinea, with a defined territory, a government chosen by its people, and capacity to conduct international relations and hold UN membership.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF pp. 1–2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  34. 34.

    Claim: Polling took place between 23 November and 7 December 2019.

    • Bougainville Referendum Commission, Bougainville Referendum Commission (website home page) (Bougainville Referendum Commission) link, results panel. Source record
  35. 35.

    Claim: On 11 December 2019 the Commission declared 176,928 votes for Independence and 3,043 for Greater Autonomy, with 1,096 informal ballot papers, from 181,067 ballot papers counted.

    • Bougainville Referendum Commission, Statement from the Commission (Bougainville Referendum Commission, 11 December 2019) link, statement text. Source record
    • Bougainville Referendum Commission, Bougainville Referendum Commission (website home page) (Bougainville Referendum Commission) link, results panel. Source record
  36. 36.

    Claim: The Commission described turnout as at least 85 per cent. Attributed to Bougainville Referendum Commission

    • Bougainville Referendum Commission, Statement from the Commission (Bougainville Referendum Commission, 11 December 2019) link, statement text. Source record
  37. 37.

    Claim: The Joint Communique records that the referendum, witnessed by international observers, was free and fair and, according to observer groups, “credible, transparent and inclusive”. Attributed to Governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville (2021)

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  38. 38.

    Claim: The Commission’s report was tabled in the National Parliament and the Bougainville House of Representatives and unanimously endorsed by both.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  39. 39.

    Claim: On 11 January 2021 the two governments committed to begin joint consultations on the referendum outcome under section 342(1) of the National Constitution and clause 311(b) of the Agreement, affirming that the outcome is subject to ratification by the National Parliament.

    • Government of Papua New Guinea and Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joint Communique on the Outcome of the Bougainville Referendum (UN Peacemaker (copy), 11 January 2021) link, PDF p. 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  40. 40.

    Claim: RNZ reported that the Melanesian Agreement, signed by the two governments at the Burnham military camp in New Zealand in 2025, committed them to collaboration, constitutional integrity and mutual understanding in the peace process. Attributed to RNZ

    • RNZ Pacific, Bougainville’s Toroama accuses PNG of breaching Melanesian Agreement (RNZ, 19 June 2026) link, article text. Source record The article, of June 2026, says the agreement was signed “last year”.
  41. 41.

    Claim: On 9 June 2026 the National Parliament adopted a sessional order for considering the referendum result, which set a three-quarters absolute majority for ratification rather than the two-thirds majority usually required for constitutional amendments.

    • Blades, Johnny, PNG sets high threshold for ratifying Bougainville independence vote (RNZ, 11 June 2026) link, opening paragraphs. Source record
    • RNZ Pacific, Bougainville’s Toroama accuses PNG of breaching Melanesian Agreement (RNZ, 19 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • The National, Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority (The National (Papua New Guinea), 22 June 2026) link, article text. Source record Gives the date of 9 June 2026.
  42. 42.

    Claim: A three-quarters absolute majority means at least 89 of Parliament’s 118 members.

    • The National, Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority (The National (Papua New Guinea), 22 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • Kanu, Zara, Aug 27 is a crucial date for PNG (The National (Papua New Guinea), 21 August 2026) link, article text. Source record
  43. 43.

    Claim: Bougainville’s leaders objected: the ABG Vice-President called the threshold unilaterally crafted, the Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives said the voting majority had never been agreed, and President Ishmael Toroama said adopting the order without that Speaker’s consent breached the Melanesian Agreement. Attributed to ABG leaders, as reported by The National and RNZ

    • The National, Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority (The National (Papua New Guinea), 22 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • RNZ Pacific, Bougainville’s Toroama accuses PNG of breaching Melanesian Agreement (RNZ, 19 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • Blades, Johnny, PNG sets high threshold for ratifying Bougainville independence vote (RNZ, 11 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
  44. 44.

    Claim: Prime Minister James Marape said both sides had agreed the three-quarters threshold in the sessional arrangements and that a super majority befitting a constitutional change was proper for a decision on breaking up the country. Attributed to James Marape, as reported by RNZ and The National

    • Blades, Johnny, PNG sets high threshold for ratifying Bougainville independence vote (RNZ, 11 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
    • The National, Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority (The National (Papua New Guinea), 22 June 2026) link, article text. Source record
  45. 45.

    Claim: In June 2026 the ABG presented its final position to the facilitator of the joint consultations: preparation for self-government until 1 September 2027, a period of self-government from that date, and independence in 2030 as a state separate from Papua New Guinea. Attributed to Autonomous Bougainville Government, as reported by RNZ

    • Persico, Christina, Bougainville sets out three-stage proposal for full independence by 2030 (RNZ, 25 June 2026) link, opening paragraphs. Source record
    • Kanu, Zara, Aug 27 is a crucial date for PNG (The National (Papua New Guinea), 21 August 2026) link, article text. Source record Describes a target of full independence by 1 September 2030.
  46. 46.

    Claim: PNG’s ruling PANGU Party said it would support a 15-year transition for Bougainville whether Parliament voted for or against independence, conditional on financial self-sufficiency, including funding at least 70 percent of its budget from internal revenue over five years, peace and stability, and an end to armed violence and factionalism. Attributed to James Marape and the PANGU Party, as reported by RNZ

    • Persico, Christina, Bougainville sets out three-stage proposal for full independence by 2030 (RNZ, 25 June 2026) link, later paragraphs. Source record
  47. 47.

    Claim: At a Joint Supervisory Body meeting in Port Moresby in early August 2026, co-chaired by Marape and Toroama, the two governments endorsed the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework and set 27 August for tabling the referendum result.

    • RNZ Pacific, Bougainville and Papua New Guinea decide on date for referendum result to be tabled (RNZ, 6 August 2026) link, photo caption and opening paragraphs. Source record Gives the meeting date as 5 August 2026.
    • Kanu, Zara, Aug 27 is a crucial date for PNG (The National (Papua New Guinea), 21 August 2026) link, article text. Source record Gives the date as 6 August.
  48. 48.

    Claim: On 27 August 2026 the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Manasseh Makiba, tabled the referendum result, the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework in the National Parliament; after debate Parliament adjourned without a vote.

    • Blades, Johnny, PNG parliament decision on Bougainville still months off at least (RNZ, 28 August 2026) link, opening paragraphs. Source record
  49. 49.

    Claim: RNZ’s analysis reported that Marape had hinted at a period for Bougainville to build economic self-reliance before Parliament might revisit independence, and that many see rehabilitating the Panguna mine as central to that, a development Toroama is already pursuing. Attributed to RNZ (analysis)

    • Blades, Johnny, Long time coming: After decades of struggle, is Bougainville on the brink of statehood? (RNZ, 27 August 2026) link, article text. Source record

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Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/bougainville/history · last substantive update 15 September 2026.