The South Pacific region of Bougainville has voted in a referendum in favour of gaining independence from Papua New Guinea. The South Pacific region of Bougainville has voted in a referendum in favour of gaining independence from Papua New Guinea. There were cheers when Bougainville Referendum Commission chairman Bertie Ahern announced the result in a public hall in the semi-autonomous province. However, the referendum is non-binding, and independence would then need to be negotiated between leaders from Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. The final say would then go to MPs in the Papua New Guinea parliament.

Source: Irish Independent December 11, 2019 04:52 UTC