In Papua New Guinea's Enga province, a violent clash between rival tribes resulted in the death of a minimum of 26 combatants and an unspecified number of bystanders, as per information provided by the police on Monday.
Acting Superintendent George Kakas of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary reported that a tribe, accompanied by their allies and mercenaries, faced an ambush while en route to launch an attack on a neighboring tribe in the remote highlands of Enga province. Police Commissioner David Manning characterized the incident as a "gunbattle between warring tribes," and an undisclosed number of villagers are believed to have lost their lives as well. After the clash, additional police forces were dispatched to the scene to restore control.
Initially, Kakas mentioned a death toll of 53 combatants, but this figure was later revised down to 26 by security forces. The bodies were collected from various locations, including the battlefield, roads, and the riverside, and were transported to the hospital. Authorities are still in the process of counting those who were injured or fled into the bushes during the confrontation.
Expressing concern about the violence in England, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape urged the conflicting tribes to cease hostilities and lay down their weapons. He emphasized that resorting to violence does not solve disputes and often exacerbates problems.
A tribal leader from Akom village, John Luther, downplayed the likelihood of retaliatory violence, emphasizing the significant loss of lives and the weakness in numbers on their side. Luther accused the military of supporting his enemies during the ambush, claiming that the death toll was higher than reported. Despite this, he expressed reluctance to engage in further fighting.
The ambush targeted villagers seeking retribution for the death of a woman in an allied neighboring village. The situation has raised concerns about potential retaliatory violence, with fears that revenge killings may ensue. Government lawyer Oliver Nobetau warned of a possible continuation of hostilities, describing revenge killings as a common occurrence.
Tribal violence is a recurring issue in Papua New Guinea, but the scale of this incident is unprecedented. Limited police resources pose a challenge in addressing such conflicts. The international community, including Australia, has expressed concern, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicating readiness to assist Papua New Guinea. Tribal violence in the Enga region has escalated since the 2022 elections, reflecting a broader issue that emerges during electoral periods in the country.
