Papua New Guinea Faces Unprecedented Crises With No End In Sight

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is facing an unprecedented crisis with no end in sight.

From ongoing problems with foreign currency, rising unemployment, inflation to the recent unrest on Black Wednesday costing over a billion kina, along with the tragic Enga Massacre and a vote of no confidence being knocked out, it seems like there’s no end in sight.

Throughout the week, the global media extensively reported on the grim discovery of lifeless, mutilated bodies believed to be hired gunmen who were slaughtered in an ambush. This event has significantly damaged Papua New Guinea’s reputation, particularly in relation to foreign investment and humanitarian efforts.

The dire situation in PNG has being described by security experts as a critical regional security challenge amidst the rapidly rising geopolitical tensions between global superpowers, including the USA, Australia, China, and others

On the business and investment front, business leaders keep calling on the Marape-Rosso government to take drastic measures to address the deteriorating law and order situation in the country to win back investor confidence.

A report from the Central Bank indicates an improvement in the foreign exchange (FX) situation. However, an ongoing dispute between the Central Bank and Puma poses a threat of further chaos for the country. Puma has already announced to the nation that it has ceased fuel supply operations.

PNG, as a country, has been thrown into a dark place with Puma’s major control of fuel supply in the country. But all is not bad, with Mobil Oil stepping up to the challenge of meeting the country’s needs.

ExxonMobil PNG managing director Tera Shandro said, “For the past 102 years, an ExxonMobil affiliate, Mobil Oil New Guinea Ltd, has reliably supplied quality fuels and lubricants to Papua New Guinea.

Its current fuel supply operations are normal as they primarily come from ExxonMobil’s world-class refinery in Singapore. Today, ExxonMobil and its affiliate companies’ commitment to Papua New Guinea remains firm.”

Despite the fuel shortage alarm, major cities in the country are currently functioning normally.

However, there are growing concerns about the spread of fear and retaliatory killings from the highlands of Papua New Guinea into urban areas in response to Enga Masacre. There are allegations that elites in the cities are sponsoring the supply of arms to tribal warlords, exacerbating the situation.

With lessons learnt from the Black Wednesday, businesses continue to remain vigilant with some expressing interest to beef up security by purchasing guns as reported by local media.