In Papua New Guinea, at least 30 people have been killed in a series of shootouts between rival tribes over a disputed gold mine, according to police.
The violence erupted near the Porgera gold mine in the central highlands after members of the Sakar clan settled on land owned by the Piande tribe in August.
The fighting intensified on Sunday with over 300 shots fired following failed peace talks.
Police Commissioner David Manning has authorized emergency measures, including the use of “lethal force,” and imposed a ban on alcohol sales and an overnight curfew.
Manning condemned the violence, stating, “Put simply, if you raise a weapon in a public place or to threaten another person, you will be shot.”
Local reports indicate that the Canadian-owned Porgera mine, one of Papua New Guinea’s largest, was temporarily shut down due to the conflict.
The violence has resulted in the burning of buildings and the closure of schools, hospitals, and government offices, as reported by the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier.
Tribal conflicts are common in Papua New Guinea’s highlands, but the recent violence has been exacerbated by an influx of automatic weapons.
The Porgera mine, which once contributed around 10% of the country’s annual export earnings, has seen production stalled due to ongoing violence and government issues.
A witness described the current violence as “unprecedented,” recalling previous incidents such as the attack earlier this year in East Sepik province, which resulted in at least 26 deaths, including 16 children.
In 2022, similar clashes near the mine left at least 17 people dead.
Security teams have been deployed along highways to the mine, broadcasting peace messages through loudhailers.
During a recent visit, Pope Francis called for an end to the violence, emphasizing its detrimental impact on peace and development.
“It causes many victims, prevents people from living in peace, and hinders development,” he said.
Source-BBC
