Conflict over the Panguna mine became the primary trigger for the Bougainville Civil War (1988–1998), which resulted in the deaths of up to 20,000 people. The name of the region originates from French admiral Louis Antoine de Bougainville, who reached it in 1768.īougainvillean separatism dates to the 1960s, and the Republic of North Solomons was declared shortly before the independence of Papua New Guinea in 1975 it was subsumed into Papua New Guinea the following year. During the colonial period the region was occupied and administered by the Germans, Australians, Japanese, and Americans for various periods. Historically the region was known as the North Solomons.īougainville has been inhabited by humans for at least 29,000 years.

Geographically the islands of Bougainville and Buka are part of the Solomon Islands archipelago, but are politically separate from the independent country of Solomon Islands. The region includes several Polynesian outliers where Polynesian languages are spoken. The lingua franca of Bougainville is Tok Pisin, while a variety of Austronesian and non-Austronesian languages are also spoken. In 2011, the region had an estimated population of 250,000 people. One potential location is Arawa, the previous capital.

The interim capital is Buka, although this is considered temporary, with the capital likely to move. The largest island is Bougainville Island, while the region also includes Buka Island and a number of outlying islands and atolls. Bougainville ( / ˈ b oʊ ɡ ən v ɪ l/ BOH-gən-vil / ˈ b uː ɡ ɛ n v ɪ l/ Tok Pisin: Bogenvil ), officially the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (Tok Pisin: Otonomos Region bilong Bogenvil), is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea.

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