Papua New Guinea: Increased government and tribal violence in the Highlands likely to be ongoing out to 2027
Around 5 October, the Commissioner of Police, David Manning, summoned senior police commanders with orders to move to their provinces and reduce violence in their areas of responsibility. Around 24 September, Prime Minister Marape stated publicly that PNG’s police and military were charged to increase efforts to restore order in the country’s highlands before the 2027 general election, following an incident involving an armed group blocking a major highway (see SPI #30 of 10-23 September 2025). The PM also stated that the services’ respective chiefs would be personally ordered to the area if they did not achieve results. According to media reporting, despite the appointment of Anthony Wagambie Junior as overall operations commander on 27 September, many Provincial Police Commanders remained in Port Moresby. Commissioner Manning acknowledged that surveillance, financial analysis, and on the ground operations were taking place under PNG’s Counter-Terrorism Act.
Assessment: The Provincial Commanders singled out are responsible for Western Highlands, Southern Highlands, and Hela. The overall operations commander, Commander Wagambie Jr., was also included in the Commissioner’s summons. While dismantling the financial and smuggling networks fueling armed tribal violence in PNG’s Highlands requires a significant amount of preparation, the Commissioner’s actions likely indicate the subordinates were not meeting his intent for fast action, as well as his personal fear for his job. Little reporting from the PNG Defence Force almost certainly indicates they are in a support role with the Police firmly in the lead to develop the operational plan and coordinate national level resources. Tribal violence and large police operations are highly likely to remain focused on these three provinces out to 2027, in addition to Enga province which has had multiple states of emergency declared over the last 12 months.
Sources: Miriam Zarriga, “Marape cautions Manning, Polewara: Fix Highlands ‘issues,’” Post Courier, September 24, 2025; “Wagambie appointed commander of counterterrorism operations in Highlands,” The PNG Bulletin, September 27, 2025; “Manning summons Wagambie, Tondop, Nili and Welly to report to their posts in Highlands crackdown,” The PNG Bulletin, October 5, 2025; “Calm restored in Nipa-Kutubu as security forces launch counterterrorism operation,” The PNG Bulletin, September 24, 2025.
