Papua New Guinea's copper- and gold-rich Bougainville region is set to declare independence by 2027 ... to the parliamentary process. "I cannot pre-commit the timeline," Marape said.

A referendum on independence within the next five years dominated campaigning in the recent general election held in Bougainville, an autonomous region of 300,000 people in the east of Papua New ...

Women in tribal colours attend a Bougainville reconciliation ceremony in November An island group that's part of Papua New Guinea ... history includes colonial exploitation, attempts at ...

The people of Bougainville, an island group in Papua New Guinea ... independence, and does not have to accept the result, the huge mandate will make it hard to ignore. The 98% result is above pre ...

Young Upe men cast their votes in the Bougainville Referendum at the men's only polling station in Teau Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. [AFP] Voters backing Bougainville's independence from Papua ...