The Pianda, Sakare Mamai, Eno, Aiyala, and Nomali clans of Porgera Valley made history by signing the Emergency Peace Agreement (EPA) recently at the Porgera Station open air grandstand on January 31, 2025.
This long-awaited EPA ceremony was witnessed by more than 5,000 witnesses, marking the end of violent conflict that erupted in August 2024 over illegal mining activities.
Under heavy security, leaders of the five clans were escorted into Porgera Station, where they publicly pledged to lay down arms and restore peace. Religious leaders, including the SDA Church of Porgera, played a vital role in guiding the process.
The peace process was made possible through months of behind-the-scenes negotiations following the declaration of a State of Emergency (SOE) on September 18, 2024. A decisive closed-door meeting at Aumpi Guest House paved the way for the formalization of the peace agreement.
During the signing, clan leaders publicly apologized for the loss of lives and destruction of property. They vowed to uphold the terms of the agreement and entrusted the customary settlement of deaths and damages to Operation Mekim Save mediators. A signed and sealed copy of the EPA was distributed to all key stakeholders, ensuring accountability.
Meanwhile, the months of violence has claimed over 33 lives, mostly women and children, and caused millions of kina in property destruction. Basic services such as education, healthcare, and banking were also disrupted, leaving the community in turmoil.
With this historic agreement, Porgera takes a significant step toward lasting peace, setting the foundation for rebuilding and restoring services that had been disrupted by the conflict.