Escalation in Papua New Guinea tribal clashes; retaliatory violence claims dozens of lives

Local law enforcement report recent massacre events in the mountainous regions of Papua New Guinea. Acting Superintendent George Kakas shared the devastation experienced by officers who arrived on scene.

"This is without doubt the most significant act of hostility I've witnessed in Enga, and possibly even the entire Highlands region of Papua New Guinea. We're all deeply affected. It's difficult to comprehend," commented a government official to ABC News.

Enga experienced a lockdown that lasted several months last year due to the rise in tribal clashes. The police attempted to inhibit the delivery of firearms and ammunition to the region, however, this action backfired, leading to a surge in violence.

More than 60 people were killed in the tribal conflict last year, according to local reports. In the recent conflict, yet again, dozens of lives were lost. To date, services have counted 64 victims.

Superintendent Kakas reported that one of the tribes, with their allies and hired forces, were planning to attack a neighbouring tribe when they were ambushed. "Members of the attacked tribe were dispersed across the region. They sought refuge from the attackers in the bush, but were pursued," expressed the officer.

"We have begun to gather the fallen bodies spread out across the entire battlefield, on roads, and by the river. We've been trying to find injured individuals to provide aid and transport them to the hospital," he added.

Law enforcement are appealing for peace in the province. Governor of Enga, Peter Ipatas, expressed his fear that the tribal conflict may reignite soon.

As many as 17 tribes are participating in the conflict. The violence has been escalating since the last elections in 2022. Another significant incident occurred in September of the preceding year. During the funeral of an aggression victim, a violent attack occurred. The warring parties resorted to using knives and axes.

This sparked clashes in the days following. The disorder spilled over to other villages, resulting in more tribes getting involved. Numerous villages were invaded and eventually burned down.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to reports of unrest in Enga. He stated that Australia is prepared to provide immediate assistance and deploy force to the conflict zone. However, any decision of this nature awaits confirmation from the Papua New Guinea authorities.