President Ishmael Toroama has retained the Bougainville presidency following the 2025 election. 26 September 2025 Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
Bougainville's re-elected president is confident of achieving independence from Papua New Guinea, despite inertia from Port Moresby.
Ishmael Toroama is back in the top job after a landslide victory, securing more than 90,000 votes in the 2025 general election held last month.
The former Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) commander will lead the autonomous region for the next five years as it pursues self-determination.
The president is vowing to gain political independence for his people, despite his lack of success in the past five years.
In 2019, 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans voted for independence in an historic, non-binding referendum.
Bougainville's independence was expected to follow, but Port Moresby has conceded little ground.
Speaking for the first time since getting re-elected, Toroama told Pacific Waves he will push ahead despite resistance from James Marape's national government.
"That's the type of person I am. Whether he likes it or not I think I will be pushing hard for the people because it is a democratic vote for the people," Toroama said.
The plans, he said, were always to achieve independence no later than 2027.
In his view, the referendum carries legal weight because it is enshrined in the PNG constitution.
"Is see that as a binding referendum, so I really think whilst moving ahead, whether they like it or not, its a step ahead, we can move forward with that."
Ishmael Toroama has retained the Bougainville Presidency after surpassing the absolute majority. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
Asked if he felt frustrated by the lack of progress, he said: "The frustration is there but its how I manage the frustration."
"It's all about ending the war in Bougainville, it's not about creating another opportunity that could create a disaster. But it's again, how we manoeuvre on the consultation table moving forward."
He said he is upbeat about future discussions.
"I think the confidence comes in line with the way we can consult with the national government going forward. Especially with the Melanesian Relationship Agreement which we can build that into what we think so we can come to a common understanding with the national government.
PNG opposed to independence - academic
Michael Kabuni, a political scientist from PNG, says the President is a strong, astute leader.
"There's never been a Bougainville leader that has taken on the PNG government and held it accountable for not doing their part in devolving the powers they were supposed to, and then going beyond that and putting down his own timelines and then negotiating with the PNG government," Kabauni said.
He said its anybody's guess what the outcome of negotiations will be.
"It's possible that there might be a different political settlement from independence, we don't know. But for you to get the greatest autonomy in terms of powers is to go for fully fledged independence and if that's not achieved, then you fall back."
Prime Minister Marape was among the first to congratulate Ishmael Toroama, issuing a statement from the UN General Assembly in New York.
"We will continue to support development in the region while ensuring that our ongoing discussions are conducted in a manner that safeguards peace, stability, and the future of all our people," Marape said.
However, Kabuni said history shows a lack of committment from PNG.
"Because if you go for autonomy PNG's history with Bougainville is that when they agreed to autonomy the PNG government never devolved the powers that were agreed under the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA)."
He believes the national government is widely opposed to independence.
"It's not only Marape, the majority of the PNG MPs hold the same position. My conversation with a few of them is that if consultation results went to parliament about 10 percent would support independence. That's how lopsided the PNG parliament is at the moment," he said.
But Marape said the BPA, signed in 2001, remains the cornerstone of peace and stability after the difficult years of conflict.
It established the framework for autonomy, weapons disposal and the Referendum on Bougainville's political future, he said.
