PNGDF UNITY WALK ENDS IN PORT MORESBY CITY TODAY

The Papua New Guinea Defence (PNGDF) National Unity Walk under Exercise “Antap Lon Ol”, which commenced back in July in the East Sepik province to commemorate the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary, has ended today at the Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby city.

The defence force team comprising of more than 30 men from the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1RPIR) marched into the main gate of the barracks this morning, welcomed by families of the service men and women.

The team was in possession of the Independence Message passed down from the first team from the Second Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2RPIR) at Moem Barracks who started the walk from Wewak.

Director of Land Preparation and Director of Exercise Antap Lon Ol, Lt. Col. Donald Aisuk, was there to receive the message and the Walk Baton to mark the end of this phase of the PNGDF commemoration of Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary, which began on July 9th, 2025.

“We have completed the walk with the last land force element coming into Port Moresby this morning,” said the Lt. Col.

“For phase one, the walk covered from Wewak to Madang, which was conducted by the Second Battalion. In Madang, going into phase two, the walk baton was handed over to the Engineering Battalion based in Lae.”

“So, the Engineering Battalion conducted the walk from Madang all the way to Lae, and that concluded phase 2 and then handed over to the Long-Range Renascence Unit which tracked from Lae, through Wau (district), over the Bulldog Track and into Gulf province at Malalaua station.”

“So, as of last weekend, the baton was handed over to the First Battalion and covered 200km walking from Malalaua station all the way to Laloki Bridge (Central province).”

“This concludes phase four of the exercise Antap Lon Ol. We still have phase five to be conducted come Monday on the 1st of September,” he said.

He revealed that the walk will conclude with the Freedom of Entry March into Port Moresby city, where all teams will gather at Laloki bridge early Monday morning and conduct the walk into Port Moresby city. The march will commence at 4am in the morning at Laloki bridge.

Once in the city, the party will then gather at the Unagi Oval at Gordons and then proceed with the PNGDF band to the National Parliament where the message will be passed onto the government.

For now, the team will rest and prepare for the next phase of the PNGDF celebrations of PNG’s 50th Independence Anniversary.