Papua New Guinea offers cash for guns as amnesty opens to combat escalating tribal violence

The government wants the troubled Highlands region cleared of firearms this year ahead of 2027’s scheduled national elections, which have previously resulted in a rise in violence. Photograph: Kristina Steiner/The Guardian

Papua New Guinea has asked residents to surrender illegal firearms in a bid to remove tens of thousands of weapons from the country, as it grapples with escalating violence and tribal fighting in the Highlands region.

The police minister, Sir John Pundari, said the national gun amnesty and buyback scheme started on 27 February and it would run until late August.