Bougainville conflict

Quick Facts: Who was Bougainville conflict?

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Bougainville conflict

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A protracted armed struggle (1988–1998) for autonomy in Papua New Guinea's Bougainville.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Bougainville conflict, also known as the Bougainvillean Civil War, the Solomon Civil War or the Civil War of the North Solomons was a multi-layered armed conflict fought from 1988 to 1998 in the North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea between the governments of Papua New Guinea, Australia and Indonesia and the secessionist forces of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), the rest of the Solomon Islands and allegedly Fiji, and between the BRA and other armed groups on Bougainville. The conflict was described by Bougainvillean President John Momis as the largest conflict in Oceania since the end of World War II in 1945, with an estimated 15,000–20,000 Bougainvilleans dead, although some estimates place the toll as low as between 1,000 and 2,000. Hostilities concluded under the Bougainville Peace Agreement in 1998. The national (PNG) government agreed to the founding of the Autonomous Bougainville Government and to certain rights and authorities that the autonomous government would have over what became known as Bougainville Province, which includes outlying small islands in addition to Bougainville Island itself. Bougainville is an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea, consisting of the main islands of Bougainville and Buka and numerous smaller islands.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Geographically they form part of the Solomon Islands archipelago, but are politically separate from the independent country of Solomon Islands. Bougainville was part of German New Guinea, a protectorate of Imperial Germany, from the late 1800s until it was occupied by Australia after the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Australia was assigned a League of Nations mandate over German New Guinea in the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Under Australian rule, lode gold was first discovered on Bougainville in 1930. The discovery of vast copper ore deposits in the Crown Prince Range on Bougainville island during the 1960s led to the establishment of the huge Panguna mine by the Australian company Conzinc Rio Tinto.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1972, the Panguna mine began production under the management of Bougainville Copper Ltd, with the government of Papua New Guinea as a 20% shareholder. At the time, the Panguna mine was the largest open cut mine in the world and produced more than 45% of Papua New Guinea's export revenue, making it vitally important to the national economy. Conflict began to emerge in Bougainville from the start of mining operations at Panguna as the mine recruited thousands of migrant workers to the island. Most were Papua New Guineans from the mainland, whom the Bougainvilleans referred to as "red-skins" because of their skin colour. By contrast, most native people of the island identified as "black." Many "white-skins", mostly Australian nationals, also came to work at the mine.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1914: 1914 Milestone — Bougainville was part of German New Guinea, a protectorate of Imperial Germany, from the late 1800s until it was occupied by Australia after the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
2. 1919: 1919 Milestone — Australia was assigned a League of Nations mandate over German New Guinea in the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
3. 1930: 1930 Milestone — Under Australian rule, lode gold was first discovered on Bougainville in 1930.
4. 1945: 1945 Milestone — The conflict was described by Bougainvillean President John Momis as the largest conflict in Oceania since the end of World War II in 1945, with an estimated 15,000–20,000 Bougainvilleans dead, although some estimates place the toll as low as between 1,000 and 2,000.
5. 1972: 1972 Milestone — In 1972, the Panguna mine began production under the management of Bougainville Copper Ltd, with the government of Papua New Guinea as a 20% shareholder.
6. 1988: 1988 Milestone — The Bougainville conflict, also known as the Bougainvillean Civil War, the Solomon Civil War or the Civil War of the North Solomons was a multi-layered armed conflict fought from 1988 to 1998 in the North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea between the governments of Papua New Guinea, Australia and Indonesia and the secessionist forces of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), the rest of the Solomon Islands and allegedly Fiji, and between the BRA and other armed groups on Bougainville.
7. 1998: 1998 Milestone — Hostilities concluded under the Bougainville Peace Agreement in 1998.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Bougainville conflict

True or False: “The Panguna mine's discovery of copper ore deposits occurred immediately after Papua New Guinea achieved full independence in 1975.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The vast copper ore deposits were discovered during the 1960s, preceding PNG's independence in 1975.

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