Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama has issued a strong condemnation of the recent surge in gun-related violence, warning that lawlessness will not be tolerated and calling on citizens to take full responsibility for their actions. “The recent surge of gun-related violence in Bougainville cannot go unnoticed,” Toroama said in astatement. “As a post-conflict region, flare-ups in violence are expected, but we cannot continue to use ‘Bougainville is a post-conflict region’ as an excuse for violent acts.” The violence, which has erupted in parts of South and North Bougainville, has led to loss of lives anddestruction of government property. Toroama made it clear that Bougainville has come too far since thebrutal decade-long civil war to allow such actions to undermine peace and stability. “We signed the ceasefire agreement in 1997, the Bougainville Peace Agreement in 2001, and attainedautonomy in 2005. These were not just symbolic milestones—they laid the foundation for peace inBougainville and the creation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government,” he said. “For more than 20 years, Bougainville has experienced relative peace and steady progress under the ABG. The argument that we are still a post-conflict region is no longer valid—it does not justify violence in our society today.” Toroama stressed that it is time for the people of Bougainville to take ownership of their own actions, rather than blaming the government, police, or community leaders for the challenges they face. “Lawlessness is not a failure of governance alone—it is a failure of individuals to uphold the law and respect one another,” he said. “We cannot keep pointing fingers. Every Bougainvillean has a duty to ensure peace in our communities.” He warned that continuing to rely on excuses of past conflict will only weaken Bougainville’s aspirations for political and economic self-sufficiency. “Our people are still very ignorant of this fact and still demand to be spoon-fed by the government and any entity other than themselves,” Toroama said. “This mentality will make Bougainville weak and susceptible to a lack of positive progress and tangible development.” Toroama urged Bougainvilleans to shift away from being passive recipients of change and instead become active participants in their own development. “This means abiding by the rule of law, respecting human life, and valuing the peace we fought so hard to secure,” he said. “We fought a brutal war to secure the safety, dignity, and rights of every Bougainvillean. That should serve as a constant reminder that human life is sacred—nothing material is worth taking a life.” He stressed that Bougainvilleans must embrace the peace-building efforts that have been in place for over two decades and commit themselves to ensuring a future free from violence. “For over 20 years, we have had time to reflect on the true value of life. We must learn from the past and not allow history to repeat itself.” Despite the recent violence, Toroama acknowledged the efforts of local leaders in Buka Town and BuinTown for maintaining calm and order in their communities. “I must express my gratitude to our leaders for ensuring stability despite the tragic loss of lives and destruction of property,” he said. “These types of actions do not define our people. They are meant to test our resilience and our resolve.” Toroama called on all Bougainvilleans to stand united in the face of adversity and continue working toward a peaceful and prosperous future. “We must continue to unite and stand firm because Bougainville is destined for greatness,” he said. “The future of Bougainville is in our hands, and we must not allow violence to derail our progress.” As Bougainville moves forward in its quest for full independence, Toroama made it clear that peace,stability, and personal accountability must remain the guiding principles for the region’s future.