Papua New Guinea - August 2023

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.

Sources: The Guardian, Benar News, Radio New Zealand, Voice of America