- By Tiffanie Turnbull
- BBC News, Sydney
February 18, 2024
Updated 8 minutes ago
Image source: Getty Images
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The Highlands region has long struggled with tribal violence
At least 53 people have died in an ambush in the remote highland region of Papua New Guinea.
The victims were shot during a tribal dispute in Enga province at the weekend, a state police spokesman told the BBC.
Authorities have called for calm and expect the death toll to rise.
The Highlands region has long struggled with violence, but these killings are believed to be the worst in years.
Police have begun collecting bodies from the scene near the town of Wabag – about 600 km (373 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby.
“That’s by far the biggest thing [killing] “I saw it in Enga, maybe all over the Highlands,” Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Acting Supt George Kakas said, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
“We are all devastated, we are all mentally stressed. It’s really hard to understand.”
Escalating tribal conflicts – often over the distribution of land and wealth – led to a three-month lockdown in Enga province last July, where police imposed a curfew and travel restrictions.
In recent years, the influx of illegal firearms has made clashes more deadly, fueling the vicious cycle of violence.
Governor Peter Ipatas said there were signs leading up to the ambush that fighting would break out again, according to ABC.
“From a provincial perspective, we knew this fight would continue, and we [alerted] We instructed security forces last week to ensure they had taken appropriate measures to ensure this did not happen.
Security in general remains a key concern for PNG. Last month the government declared a state of emergency after severe riots and looting left at least 15 people dead.
Australia – one of the country's closest allies – said news of the killings was “very disturbing”.
“We are providing significant support, particularly for police training and security in Papua New Guinea,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a radio interview on Monday.