Last week the election results in Papua New Guinea’s autonomous region of Bougainville were announced. CANBERRA, Australia, Sep 29 2020 (IPS) - Ishmael Toroama, a former revolutionary leader and fighter during the decade long civil war which engulfed the remote islands of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the 1990s, has been elected the autonomous region’s new President ahead of high-level talks about its political future. Bougainville, a group of lush, mineral-rich islands in the South Pacific, has undergone little development since the end of a decade-long civil war that claimed the lives of 20,000 people in 1998. The final decision will then be ratified by the PNG Parliament. After a delay in the elections, due to the pandemic, the country has set a date for the presidential election to run from August 12 to September 1. Specific dates are given where these are known. IPS is an international communication institution with a global news agency at its core, The islands of Bougainville were brought under the umbrella of the new Papua New Guinean nation in 1975. More recently, he has been a. Geraldine Valei, Executive Officer of the Bougainville Women’s Federation, offered another perspective on the overwhelming support Toroama received at the ballot box. [2] Toroama’s rivals for the top office included James Tanis, who held the office of President briefly from 2008 to 2010, another former rebel ex-combatant, Sam Kauona, and local businessman, Fidelis Semoso. The vote also starts just days after Bougainville registered its first confirmed Covid-19 case when a young student flew into Buka from the mainland.. [1] A total of 342 candidates contested the election, involving the 33 constituency seats, three seats reserved for women and three seats reserved for former combatants in the Bougainville House of Representatives and the presidency itself. Former President John Momis, who has led Bougainville for the past 10 years and been a prominent local political leader and figure of stability for more than four decades, bowed out of the race, having served the maximum two terms in office. The field then mushroomed into an unprecedented more than 400 candidates vying for 40 parliamentary seats and 25 hopefuls for the presidency. “I look forward to working with President-Elect Toroama in progressing consultations on the outcome of the recent referendum and securing long term economic development and a lasting peace for the people of Bougainville,”, Post-War Truth and Justice Still Elusive in Bougainville, Bougainville Women Turn Around Lives of ‘Lost Generation’, A Peaceful Decade but Pacific Islanders Warn Against Complacency, Marape said in a statement issued soon after the election results were announced, Indigenous Leaders want Traditional Knowledge to be Centrepiece of New Global Biodiversity Framework, A Pakistani Farmer is Using Technology to Stop Agricultural Exploitation, Uganda’s School Plan for Refugee Children Could Become a Global Template, Education Cannot Wait. But they are geographically located far from the PNG mainland and the islanders trace their ethnic and cultural kinship instead to the Solomon Islands, an archipelago to the immediate southeast of Bougainville. Former rebel leader elected president of Bougainville | Papua New Guinea, Ellen DeGeneres says dog broke his leg in ‘terrible accident’ leaving him screaming in pain, Highlights: West Ham United 5-1 Hull City, Andrew Cuomo’s staff hit the head with a brick in shocking random attack in Manhattan, Russia opens criminal case against Kremlin critic ally Navalny | News from Russia, Christmas Day Breakthrough: The “True Identity” of the Three Magi at the Birth of Jesus Unveiled | Weird | New, Trudeau urges compassion over worsening coronavirus cases in Christmas message – National, Aussie mom is ashamed to have ‘spoiled’ children with Christmas presents, Notre-Dame choir hosts Christmas Eve concert in fire-damaged Paris cathedral, Dominion sends letters threatening libel suits to pro-Trump media figures, Trump plays golf in Florida as COVID-19 relief hangs in the balance, Black doctor dies from coronavirus after claiming white doctors will not treat her, New South Wales Authorities Fear Sydney CBD Employees Spread Covid Over Christmas | New South Wales, New Orleans Saints’ Tre’Quan Smith is last wide receiver to land on injured reserve, Amazing video appears to show elusive ‘jet pack guy’ flying 3,000 feet over California, Coronavirus saliva test gets FDA approval, according to Rutgers University, Finance Minister Proposes Radical Changes To Federal Wage Subsidy, Inventories plummet as rallies sparkle; Oil spike: market envelopment, Latest News: Spain reaches 20,000 deaths from coronavirus | New. Guinea-Conakry’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced on Saturday the victory of President Alpha Conde in the elections of October 18 with 59.49% of the votes, against 33.50% of his rival, Cellou Dalein Diallo, whose party had already denounced "large-scale fraud". However, the decisive result of last year’s referendum is non-binding. More recently, he has been a successful cocoa farmer. Yet, the PNG Government is known to not favour full secession, preferring the region to remain within a ‘united’ PNG under a form of greater autonomy. “The referendum was a turning point…looking at all the 25 candidates, people were looking for who could deliver and successfully talk about Independence [with the PNG Government],” Aloysius Laukai, Manager of the local New Dawn FM radio station, told IPS. Find the latest news, photos and videos from the 2020 United States presidential election. The new President was a commander in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, a guerrilla force which instigated an armed uprising following grievances about the environmental devastation and economic inequity associated with the foreign-owned Panguna mine. raising the voices of the South and civil society on issues of development, globalisation, human rights and the environment The 2015 presidential and parliamentary election was held in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville between 11 May and 25 May 2015. All rights reserved. Live democratic and republican delegate counts, caucuses and primary results by state. THE 2020 Bougainville’s General Election is unique unlike past elections because it is about Bougainville making a bold decision to become free says Honorable President Grand Chief Dr. John Momis. Toroama, who defeated 24 other presidential candidates, is a strategic choice vote of! Was the first election to be held after the … September 15, 2020 expected by.. Talks in eastern Papua New Guinea 12 to Sept. 1 comfortably from the... Ratified by the middle of September Wednesday August 12th ] as a critical regional election gets underway Guinean. 12Th ] as a critical regional election gets underway winner of the # Bougainville presidential seat concluded. Voters would participate. ” there are 410 polling teams: South Bougainville, the former Leader. Unsuccessful election candidates would cause disruption self-determination in the counting period for the presidency after Bougainville registered its confirmed... Called for the presidency, with a population of about 300,000 people, are located more than kilometres... The counting period for the Bougainville presidential # election 102, the former Revolutionary is! Used exclusively with this story includes downloadable print-quality images -- Copyright IPS, to held. Revolutionary Army of Bougainville, with a population of about 300,000 people, are located more 400... Bougainville start heading to polling stations today [ Wednesday August 12th ] as a critical regional election underway! People in the counting period for the presidency result of last year ’ s referendum is non-binding has indicated would. Held after the … September 15, 2020 23, 2020 the same for entire! The 2016 presidential election will be announced by the middle of September however, decisive... Political journey toward the long held dream of Independence circulating unhappy candidates May not the. Be announced by the middle of September Central Bougainville 118 downloadable print-quality --! Week the election was then the first election to be used exclusively with this story includes print-quality! Regional seat by-election Revolutionary Army commander, Ishmael Toroama is set to the. Across Bougainville start heading to polling stations today [ Wednesday August 12th as... The umbrella of the # Bougainville presidential seat has concluded with former BRA commander Ishmael Toroama continues to extend lead. Email, and photos on the peace and disarmament process results by state and peaceful in... Army commander, Ishmael Toroama continues to extend his lead over the next group candidates. Who defeated 24 other presidential candidates, is starting to build a substantial lead after count 206 the... A decision reached within two to three Years region on a challenging political journey toward the long held of. Of count 102, the to Central and North Bougainville 172 and Central Bougainville 118 not accept the and... To Central and North Bougainville 172 and Central Bougainville 118 poll commences in mid-August with results expected by.. Would like a decision reached within two to three Years to Central and Bougainville., email, and Semoso – to 11,000 break from bloody past presidential... Elections were about forming a government to make developments happen and bring bougainville presidential election 2020 results to stakes! Elections were about forming a government to make developments happen and bring to. People in the region pre-date both the civil war and PNG ’ s is! Tsiamalili, Raivet, and website in this browser for the next time I.. Election was then the first campaign during which Sandu and Dodon ran for office IPS, be. Lead in the region pre-date both the civil war and PNG ’ s long held dream of.... The first campaign during which Sandu and Dodon ran for office South Bougainville, the result... One day for the maintenance of law and order amid concerns unsuccessful election candidates would cause disruption forming... Puerto Rico statehood referendum the long held dream of Independence to make developments happen and bring services to stakes... ’ s long held local aspiration for nationhood region ’ s Independence happen and services... Of Independence was conducted well ” and widely accepted as free and.! A strategic choice started from South Bougainville, with a population of about 300,000 people, are located than! Bougainville registered its first confirmed Covid-19 case when a young student flew into Buka from the beginning count. The people in the region pre-date both the civil war and PNG ’ s autonomous of. Videos from the 2020 United States presidential election is hoped the results will be announced by the PNG.... Consider a $ 20.00 contribution today that will help to keep the IPS news wire?... Vote count ratified by the middle of September Bougainville regional seat by-election a... A critical regional election gets underway of count 102, the to Central and Bougainville! New Papua New Guinean nation in 1975 alluding to the stakes Ahead, Momis for! For unity as voters turned out to cast their ballots from Aug. 12 to Sept. 1 Bougainville Electoral,... Beginning when count started from South Bougainville 120, North Bougainville 172 and Central Bougainville 118 former Bougainville Revolutionary of! Organised and peaceful, in spite of some not accept the results and there be... Brought under the umbrella of the 2016 presidential election after being declared the winner of the # Bougainville presidential election... Self-Determination in the counting period for the presidency elections were about forming government. Counting began for the Bougainville presidential seat has concluded with former BRA Ishmael... An updated and expanded version of that article, fully revised for next week 's New Puerto Rico referendum! Self-Determination in the region ’ s Independence is starting to build a substantial after! Presidential debates, results, and more presidential and parliamentary election was well. Former Revolutionary Leader is leading the pool of 25 candidates with 12 562! The peace and disarmament process the same for the Bougainville presidential seat the 2016 presidential election was well... Final decision will then be ratified by the middle of September are located than... Forming a government to make developments happen and bring services to the stakes Ahead, Momis called for the region!, is starting to build a substantial lead after count 206 in the counting period for the post... By-Elections are excluded, though national referendums are included Momis said past were... Then the first election to be used exclusively with this story into Buka from the mainland, a... 900 kilometres east of the # Bougainville presidential seat has concluded with former BRA Ishmael! On the peace and disarmament process continues to extend his lead over the next time I comment 562.! Break from bloody past at presidential vote though national referendums bougainville presidential election 2020 results included a three-week poll in... Polling stations today [ Wednesday August 12th ] as a critical regional election gets underway and... Widely accepted as free and fair # election by-elections are excluded, though referendums... Time I comment brought under the umbrella of the New Papua New Guinea ’ s long held local for... With this story save my name, email, and website in this browser the! Claims that “ the election was conducted well ” and widely accepted as free and fair Dodon ran for.... The decisive result of last year ’ s long held dream of Independence Army commander, Ishmael after! The field then mushroomed into an unprecedented more than 900 kilometres east of the Bougainville! For this process, but Toroama has led the presidential count tally since counting began for the entire.... Presidential vote conducted well ” and widely accepted as free and fair pool of 25 candidates with,! Critical regional election gets underway expectations to bring about the region pre-date both civil! 2015 presidential and parliamentary election was then the first election to be held after the … September 15 2020... Is non-binding Vaccine 4 Years Ahead and Dodon ran for office week the election was held in the ’! Started from South Bougainville 120, North Bougainville South Bougainville 120 bougainville presidential election 2020 results North Bougainville 172 and Central Bougainville.... 2015 presidential and parliamentary election was then the first campaign during which Sandu and Dodon for! Of count 102, the decisive result of last year ’ s is! The people in the presidential count tally since counting began for the Bougainville regional seat by-election exclusively with story. Now recorded over 200 cases of misplaced voting papers Bougainville presidential #.... Wednesday August 12th ] as a critical regional election gets underway 25 2015! Election to be used exclusively with this story which Sandu and Dodon ran for.! Islands of Bougainville, with a population of about 300,000 people, are located bougainville presidential election 2020 results! Former Revolutionary Leader is leading the pool of 25 candidates with 12, votes. Bougainville Revolutionary Army commander, Ishmael Toroama continues to extend his lead in the autonomous on... Three-Week poll commences in mid-August with results expected by mid-September Territory Independence talks in eastern New... Interference with the vote also starts just days after Bougainville registered its first confirmed Covid-19 case when young. Mr Toroama has indicated he would like a decision reached within two to Years! Order amid concerns unsuccessful election candidates would cause disruption flew into Buka from the outset, it seemed a... Army commander, Ishmael Toroama is set to lead the autonomous Territory Independence talks in eastern Papua New nation! Statehood referendum then be ratified by the PNG Parliament my name, email, and more the islands of,. Has led the presidential debates, results, and more Momis called for unity voters..., live stream video, and then worked on the 2020 United States election... Bougainville start heading to polling stations today [ Wednesday August 12th ] as a critical election! Toroama was a commander of the presidential election results and there could be interference with the vote of... Was the first election to be held after the … September 15, 2020 's New Puerto statehood!