Autonomous Bougainville Government
Government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea
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The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG; Tok Pisin: Otonomos Bogenvil Gavman[1]) is the government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.[2]
Structure
The Constitution of Bougainville specifies that the Autonomous Bougainville Government shall consist of three branches:[3]
- Executive – The President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, who chairs the Bougainville Executive Council.
- Legislative – The Bougainville House of Representatives (39 elected members and 2 ex officio members).
- Judicial – The newly established Bougainville Courts, Bougainville Community Courts & Bougainville High Court (yet to be established).
History
The government was established in 2000 following a peace agreement between the government of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), a guerrilla movement.[2] Elections for the first autonomous government were held in May and June 2005; Joseph Kabui was elected president, with Joseph Watawi selected by the House of Representatives as vice-president.[4]
A non-binding referendum for independence from Papua New Guinea was held in December 2019.[5] This was in accordance with the terms of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, which requires such a referendum to be held by 2020.[6] There were concerns that the referendum could result in violence due to unresolved tensions from the Bougainville conflict.[7] In this referendum, 98% of voters voted in favour of independence.[8]
Constitutional amendments proposed in February 2020, would see the Autonomous Bougainville Government renamed as the "Bougainville Constitutional Transitional Government".[9] It is aimed that the government will be governing an independent Republic of Bougainville, separate from the Monarchy of Papua New Guinea, in 2027 following an agreement with the PNG government.[10][2][11] In 2025, the Autonomous Bougainville Government converted the legislature into a constituent assembly in preparation for independence.[12]