No one will stop our people: Bougainville president defiant in push for independence

Ishmael Toroama’s life has been dominated by a single ambition. The president of Bougainville, an autonomous island that is part of the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea, has for decades fought for his island to claim its sovereignty. “Bougainville is for independence,” the president insists. “It is only a matter of time.” Under an agreement signed with PNG, this year marks the earliest point at which Bougainville can claim full independence. Toroama, 56, says his island is entering “the last 100-metre race” of its long path to sovereignty. Still, even to the most optimistic, Bougainville has far to go;

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