Over 140 West Papuan residents, who have lived in the country for over five decades, were recently issued citizenship certificates by Papua New Guinea under the naturalization citizenship pathway. The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Immigration and Border Security, John Rosso, presented a total of 143 naturalization citizenship certificates on August 5, 2024, to West Papuans who reside at Iowara, East Awin, the in Western Province. DPM Rosso was accompanied by Governor of Western Province Taboi Awi Yoto, Member for North Fly, James Donald, and the Acting Chief Migration Officer, Mr. Wellington Navasivu, to Iowara He also presented more certificates to West Papuan individuals who reside in Kiunga, Western Province on August 6, 2024. “This is the single largest group of residents who have lived in our country for over fifty years and a significant event for them as they have integrated into our community and our way of life, and the government is pleased to grant them citizenship,” Rosso said. “This process is consistent with the West Papua Registration and Naturalization Project that was implemented pursuant to National Executive Council (NEC) Decision 326/2014. “The PNG Government through the Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority (ICSA) is committed to continuing the registration and citizenship process for all the West Papuans who have resided in PNG since 1984.” He added that the initial registration exercise was completed in 2016 for these recipients in line with the NEC Decision. “They were all registered and successful applicants were awarded PNG Citizenship through naturalization during this period. However, ICSA did not conduct the ceremonies to award certificates to successful applicants. “A total of 1094 West Papuans were registered at that time were successfully granted citizenship in October 2016 by the then Minister. “There were over 500 outstanding citizenship certificates that were currently pending collection by those recipients who were unavailable to attend the ceremonies in 2017, according to the records held by ICSA,” DPM Rosso Emphasized that some recipients did not complete the renunciation and declaration of loyalty processes, and they are attending to now. He said that this process also meets one of the PNG Government’s pledges at the Global Refugee Forum on the resolution of the status of West Papuan refugees. DPM Rosso further mentioned that under his leadership and that of the Acting Chief Migration Officer, Mr. Navasivu, ICSA is focused on ensuring that all West Papuan residents in PNG undertake this process as a pathway to citizenship. The government is aware of the plight of West Papuans and has supported the decision to waiver the citizenship application fee of K10, 000 for them to make it possible for many who qualify for citizenship by naturalization to apply. Mr. Navasivu said West Papuan residents who reside in PNG for over a decade including those who hold a Permissive Residence Permits (PRP) have the option to apply for citizenship through naturalization. The ICSA has established two offices in Kiunga and Tabubil, in addition to the existing office in Daru, to facilitate the West Papuan registration and citizenship process.