Origins & Early Life

Benny Wenda (born 1975) is a West Papuan independence leader and Chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). He is an international lobbyist for the independence of West Papua from Indonesia. He lives in exile in the United Kingdom. In 2003 he was granted political asylum by the British government following his escape from custody while on trial.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He has acted as special representative of the Papuan people in the British Parliament, United Nations and European Parliament. In 2017 he was appointed as the chairman for ULMWP, a new organisation which united the three main political organisations struggling for the independence of West Papua. In 2020, the ULMWP announced a new constitution and government-in-waiting for the Republic of West Papua, with Wenda serving as interim president. His presidency was disputed by some elements of the West Papua National Liberation Army (Indonesian: Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat), claiming his stay in the United Kingdom made his presidency illegitimate. He was succeeded by Menase Tabuni in September 2023.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In November 2023, he was reinstated as President of ULMWP after a congress in Jayapura, starting a leadership dispute...

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