Vice President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Ezekiel Masatt has presented the Final Bougainville Position on the future of the Bougainville Region.
In a Forum held in Buka, Masatt outlined the three-stage pathway the ABG is taking to ensure Bougainville’s fight for independence from Papua New Guinea is achieved properly.
The Forum, chaired by ABG President, Ishmael Toroama and Vice President Masatt, brought together political leaders, veterans, the civil society, community and youth representatives to reaffirm Bougainville’s agreed pathway towards independence.
The Final Position outlines a three-stage pathway comprising preparation for self-government until 1 September 2027, a period of self-government from 2027 to 2030, and independence in 2030.
The three stage pathway is consistent with the definition of independence contained in the 2019 Referendum ballot paper.
Masatt said Bougainville remained committed to the Bougainville Peace Agreement despite recent developments in the National Parliament.
“Since the last time we had our meeting, many things have moved on; things like the National Government introducing the three-quarter voting threshold in the sessional order. We know that as a response, the Final Bougainville Position was presented with our timelines,” said Masatt.
The Forum received strong support from veterans, who endorsed the Final Bougainville Position and called for national reconciliation between Papua New Guinea and Bougainville before 1 September 2027.
The civil society and women’s representatives also endorsed the position and called for continued government support to provide accurate information for community awareness.
The Forum Endorsed the Final Bougainville Position.
Recommended 1 September 2030 as Bougainville’s Independence Declaration date, amongst its key resolutions.
ABG President, Ismael Toroama reasetted that the forum exists to guide Bougainville’s political leadership throughout the consultation process on the referendum outcome.
“We are consulting over the referendum results only, which is independence, and not on any other package,” President Toroama said.
“In the last term and this term, the Government has totally represented and protected the aspirations of the people on independence. Our stand on Bougainville’s independence is clear,” Toroama added.”
Despite the disagreements between PNG Government and ABG, Masatt said the ABG side made a conscious decision that despite what appears to be a strategy on the part of the National Government to make ratification fail, Bougainville will remain committed to stay engaged through consultations in respect of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
President Toroama also acknowledged the work of the ABG Public Service, led by the Chief Secretary, in aligning government legislation, policies and service delivery with the Final Bougainville Position
He confirmed Bougainville’s commitment to uphold the Bougainville Peace Agreement in good faith and called for the completion of the Bougainville Independence.
Toroama also called for national reconciliation to commence before ratification in the National Parliament and conclude before 1 September 2027, including an extended process of reconciliation with the Solomon Islands.
The Forum also recommended that the ABG raise concerns at the forthcoming Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting regarding the sessional order process as a matter of record on the parties’ commitment to the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
The Bougainville Independence Leaders Consultation Forum last met in March 2025. The recommendations adopted in the Forum reaffirmed Bougainville’s united position and provide clear political direction for the next phase of the independence readiness process.
Vice President Masatt presented the Final Bougainville Position, which was formally presented to the National Government in Kokopo last month.
