Bougainville: in the midst of a Pacific power play

Description

Bougainville, a tiny archipelago in the heart of the South Pacific, is set to become the world’s newest country in September 2027. After a long struggle for freedom, the islanders of Bougainville voted decisively for independence from Papua New Guinea in 2019. The Panguna mine, once the world’s largest open-cut copper and gold mine, has played a crucial role in shaping the island’s quest for independence and triggering a decade-long civil war. The mine, which also caused significant environmental damage, was shut down after armed resistance by the Bougainville Revolutionary Army during the civil war. However, with independence on the horizon, local authorities are seeking to reopen the mine as a source of independent funding. What role could this controversial mining play in Bougainville’s path to independence? And might it intensify the rivalry between global powers vying for influence in the region?

Subject

News episode with panel discussion on Bougainville's journey towards independence in the context of current geopolitics