Papua New Guinea Parliament to Review Bougainville's Independence Referendum Results

Bougainville, an autonomous area of Papua New Guinea comprising two main islands and several smaller ones, recorded a 97.7% vote for independence in a 2019 non-binding referendum. Following prolonged negotiations, the country's parliament announced it will begin reviewing the referendum outcome, though a specific vote date remains undecided. The region's population of roughly 370,000 has long pursued greater autonomy, citing disputes over revenue from the now-closed Panguna copper-gold mine and a decade-long civil conflict that caused thousands of deaths.

Bougainville officials have set targets for increased self-government by September 2027 and full sovereignty by 2030. The parliamentary review is the next procedural step required for the referendum result to take effect, pending ratification by the national legislature.