Papua New Guinea offers cash for guns as amnesty opens to combat escalating tribal violence

Papua New Guinea launched a national gun amnesty and buyback program on February 27th to combat escalating violence, particularly in the Highlands region. The government is offering cash payments in exchange for voluntarily surrendered illegal firearms until late August. This initiative aims to remove an estimated 100,000 illegal weapons from the country, where only a small percentage of firearms are legally registered. The amnesty is part of a broader effort to restore law and order, with Prime Minister James Marape warning of strict penalties after the amnesty period. The government hopes to clear the Highlands of firearms before the 2027 national elections, which historically see an increase in violence. The intensified violence is driven by land disputes, tribal rivalries, political tensions, and economic hardship.

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