Papua New Guinea - January 2024

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