2008 Bougainvillean presidential election

Politics of Bougainville

Presidential elections were held in Bougainville (an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea) from November 30 to December 18, 2008.[1] Voters elected the new President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, following the death of President Joseph Kabui while in office, on June 7.

The potential resumption of controversial mining activities, which were at the root of Bougainville's civil war in the 1990s, was reportedly a key issue in this election.[2]

There were twelve candidates at the by-election: Nick Peniai, Edward Okuwau, Gerard Sinato, Sam Kauona, Clarence Cozxiune, James Tanis, Ruben Siara, Sam Akoitai, Sylvester Niu, Joel Banam, Raymond Hakena and Patrick Leslie.[3] The two favourites had been considered to be Papua New Guinea's former mining minister Akoitai and former rebel leader Kauona.[4] In total, 14 candidates stood in the election.[5] Sinato represented Kabui's Bougainville People's Congress, while Hakena represented the New Bougainville Party.[6][7]

With 22,956 votes being cast, the election was won by James Tanis, a former Bougainville Revolutionary Army separatist and the third-place candidate in the 2005 election, with 11,112 votes. Akoitai finished second with 9,217 votes[8],.[9] Tanis was sworn in on 6 January 2009.[10]

  1. ^ "Bougainville elections chief happy with progress in Presidential election". Radio New Zealand International. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Bougainville presidential election shapes up as referendum on mining". Radio New Zealand International. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  3. ^ "7 vie for top post". PNG Post-Courier. 11 December 2009.
  4. ^ "'Two Sams' face off as Bougainville goes to the polls". 5 December 2008.
  5. ^ "Bougainville's presidential election sees a slow start". Radio New Zealand International. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Five vie for Bville presidency". PNG Post-Courier. 13 November 2008.
  7. ^ "Ex-Sanguma member joins presidential race". PNG Post-Courier. 17 November 2008.
  8. ^ "NEWSROOM 2008". www.bougainville-copper.eu (in Slovak). Retrieved 10 May 2020..
  9. ^ "Tanis is ABG leader". PNG Post-Courier. 29 December 2008.
  10. ^ "Tanis sworn in as new president of PNG's Bougainville province". Radio New Zealand International. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2011.