The 2020 Autonomous Bougainville Government General Election: Part 2

Abstract

This second In Brief in a two-part series on Bougainville’s first general election after the 2019 referendum examines the election results as well as some issues surrounding the conduct of the election. The election was generally accepted to have been well-planned and successfully administered despite limited resources and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. That said, a few matters remain before the court of disputed returns regarding allegations of misconduct. These In Briefs are based on the author’s interviews with scrutineers and observers in Buka between 12 August and 23 September 2020.