“During 2002, steady progress was achieved in Bougainville, a province of Papua New Guinea, in the implementation of the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement” (Source: United Nations. 2004. Yearbook of the United Nations, 2002, United Nations, pp. 332). On December 19 [S/2002/1380], the Security Council endorsed a final extension of UNPOB’s mandate for 12 months, to December 31, 2003.¹

Following the ceasefire and the signing of the Agreement on Peace, Security and Development on Bougainville, known as the “Lincoln Agreement”, the Government of Papua New Guinea and the other parties to the conflict requested the Secretary-General to deploy a United Nations observer mission to monitor the implementation of the Agreement (S/1998/287). By an exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council on June 15, 1998 (S/1998/506 and S/1998/507), a United Nations Political Office in Bougainville (UNPOB), based in Arawa, was established. In his letter, the UN General Secretary stated that ” a United Nations presence in Bougainville would provide added confidence to the parties to the Agreement, facilitate the tasks assigned to the Peace Monitoring Group and assist in the promotion of the political process to which the parties to the Agreements have committed themselves” (S/1998/506, June 15, 1998).

UNPOB was established in August 1998 with a mandate to monitor, observe, and report the implementation of the Lincoln and Arawa Agreements. UNPOB was also mandated to chair the Peace Process Consultative Committee. At the time of its composition, UNPOB was headed by a Director and composed of two political and two military advisers plus international and local support staff (S/1998/506, June 15, 1998). The UNPOB mandate was extended for 12 months, until December 31, 2000, through an exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council (S/1999/1153, November 10, 1999 and S/1999/1152, November 10, 1999). In a letter dated October 22, 2001, the Secretary-General informed the Security Council that UNPOB would perform additional functions in the area of weapons collection and disposal as spelled out in part E of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (S/2001/988, 22 October 2001).

No further developments observed.

No further developments observed.

No further developments observed.

No further developments observed.

With the establishment of Bougainville government in 2005, a review mechanism was in place.

For the first time, government for the autonomous region of Bougainville was established in June 2005. In five year, a joint review of autonomy arrangement will be held. Also, a review will take place prior to holding an independence referendum, which will be held between 2015 to 2020.

No developments observed this year.

The joint review of autonomy arrangement will be held in every five years. Also, a review will take place prior to holding an independence referendum, which will be held between 2015 to 2020.