Concerns Over Violence, Election Fraud in Papua New Guinea, as Observers Call for Urgent Review

A boy in traditional dress waits to participate at an event at the sports stadium to mark 40 years of independence in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Sept. 16, 2015. It was on this day in 1975 that Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Election observers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are calling for an urgent review of the 2022 election after reported incidents of violence and issues leading to a “high numbers of eligible voters” being disenfranchised.

In an Interim Statement on July 25, the chairperson of the Commonwealth Observers Group, former President of Nauru Baron Waqa said election observers were very concerned about increasing levels of violence around the election and the fact a large number of eligible voters—in some cases 50 percent—were missing from the 2022 electoral rolls.