Papua New Guinea
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. 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, Economic Equality, Gender Equality, Inclusive Suffrage, Direct Democracy and Absence of Corruption. In the last five years, Papua New Guinea experienced a significant rise in the Freedom of Expression indicator, but also a decline in 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 and a new parliamentary committee on gender equality.
In the years ahead, it will be important to watch the Absence of Corruption indicator, particularly the country’s continued decline despite 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.
Last Updated: June 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
March 2025
Anti-terror law used to briefly block Facebook
Papua New Guinea police shut down access to Facebook for 25 March and part of 26 March without notice or consistent public explanation, marking the first time any government in the country took such action against media of any kind. The government has provided conflicting accounts of the purpose of the shutdown, with some spokespeople insisting it was a “test” of the state’s ability to prevent “misuse”, and others that the purpose was to prevent terrorists from planning attacks on infrastructure. Ministries have also publicly disagreed over who was involved in the decision-making process aside from the police minister. The shutdown was authorized under the 2024 Counter-Terrorism Act. Domestic civil society criticized government agencies for acting to reduce the space for freedom of expression and the press without debate, transparency, or accountability. Facebook is by far the most popular social media in the country and is both a leading forum for public discussion as well as a marketplace for small businesses and the informally employed.
Sources: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Post Courier, DevPolicy Blog
Parliament passes constitutional amendment to limit confidence votes
Papua New Guinea’s parliament passed a constitutional amendment on 13 March that institutes an 18-month grace period following any failed vote of no confidence (VONC) against the prime minister. The amendment passed 81-4, surpassing the two-thirds majority required in parliament. The parliament’s habit of frequently holding or threatening VONCs has been described by analysts as a drag on parliamentary efficiency due to the working days lost and as more of a tool for bargaining with the government over state resources than holding the executive accountable. Eight of the last ten parliaments have removed at least one prime minister via VONC. While possibly strengthening political stability in a historically politically unstable country, preventing VONCs could also insulate prime ministers from parliamentary oversight.
Sources: Radio New Zealand, DevPolicy Blog, Lowy Institute
March 2024
Tribes sign historic ceasefire
Tribal leaders in Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province signed a ceasefire agreement to end three years of fighting in which thousands were killed and more than 40,000 were either left homeless or saw their property or livelihood destroyed. Chiefs of the Yopo and Palinau agreed to a three-month unconditional ceasefire and end to warfare and to lay down, but not to surrender, all arms. The agreement was facilitated by a governmental State Conflict Resolution team. Yopo leader Roy Opone Andoi told the Post Courier newspaper, “I want to apologise to the State, rival tribes and neighbouring communities and the country for all the damage.” The reported causes of the violence – land disputes and shifting tribal alliances – are not new, but analysts credit the severity of it to receding state authority and an influx of modern weapons.
Sources: Radio New Zealand, Post Courier, Reliefweb
February 2024
Historic deadly violence in Enga Province
At least 64 people were killed in intertribal violence in Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province in mid-February. The violence confirmed so far marks the deadliest such outbreak in recent years, which Enga Governor Peter Ipatas attributed to a long period of escalation that was “probably the biggest tribal fight we’ve ever had.” The specific cause of this outbreak of violence remains unclear. The violence is one of several overlapping crises in the country, including a year-long fuel shortage and ongoing efforts to remove Prime Minister James Marape via a vote of no confidence for his government’s alleged failure to maintain public order.
Sources: Radio New Zealand (1), Radio New Zealand (2), Radio New Zealand (3), International Crisis Group, ReliefWeb, Papua New Guinea Post-Courier
January 2024
More than 20 dead in nationwide riots
Papua New Guinea’s government declared a two-week state of emergency on 11 January after a wave of riots and violence in major cities resulted in at least 20 deaths. Several MPs resigned over the official disorder and Prime Minister James Marape suspended top police and civil servants in response to the failure of law enforcement to adequately react to and contain the violence, pending an investigation. The riots began as a peaceful protest by police officers after what the government says was an administrative error caused public servants to receive only half their usual salaries on 10 January. The riots took place against public discontent over persistent high unemployment and inflation and low wages. Observers suggested opposition parties could hold a no-confidence vote to remove Marape from office as soon as next month, when the post-election grace period forbidding such votes expires.
Sources: ABC News, Radio New Zealand, Papua New Guinea Post-Courier
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