Papua New Guinea: more than 70 dead in tribal violence

2024-02-19T07:00:58.622Z

Highlights: Papua New Guinea: more than 70 dead in tribal violence. According to the latest counts from the local press, at least 73 people were shot dead on Sunday February 18 in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea. The Highlands region is the regular scene of deadly clashes between local tribes. The latter are competing, in this very poor region, for the exploitation of land and resources, which are mixed with endless vendettas, in the face of which the authorities appear overwhelmed. Local authorities have tried, since last year, to limit its circulation. They also placed the region under curfew for several months.

According to the latest counts from the local press, at least 73 people were shot dead on Sunday February 18 in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea: more than 70 dead in tribal violence

According to the latest counts from the local press, at least 73 people were shot dead on Sunday February 18 in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea.

This photo released by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary on February 19, 2024 shows a dead body on a road as officials patrol near the town of Wabag, 600 kilometers northwest of the capital Port Moresby. AFP - HANDOUT

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Sydney,

Grégory Plesse

According to the Papua

police chief

, this is the largest massacre in the recent history of the Highlands province. This Monday the 19th, his men were still recovering the bodies of the victims of an ambush instigated by a rival tribe. These victims themselves were on their way to do battle with a rival clan.

While tribal clashes in this region located northwest of the capital are nothing new, they have been increasing in intensity for about two years, and machetes and axes are increasingly being replaced by firearms. . The Highlands region is the regular scene of deadly clashes between local tribes. The latter are competing, in this very poor region, for the exploitation of land and resources, which are mixed with endless vendettas, in the face of which the authorities appear overwhelmed.

The region already placed under curfew for several months

Local authorities have tried, since last year, to limit its circulation. They also placed the region under curfew for several months. But they seem incapable of preventing this explosion of violence, fueled both by the extreme poverty of the local populations but also by an endless cycle of vendettas.

Prime Minister James Marape, already weakened last month

by massive riots

in the capital Port Moresby, has not reacted at this stage. He should soon be targeted by a motion of no confidence, tabled last week by opposition elected officials.

Papua New Guinea: more than 70 dead in tribal violence

Papua New Guinea: more than 70 dead in tribal violence

The region already placed under curfew for several months

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