In Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister James Marape has just declared a state of emergency for 14 days, the day after violent riots which left at least 16 dead. Calm returned this Thursday, January 11 in the capital, Port Moresby, but these incidents could precipitate the fall of James Marape, already in great political difficulty.
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With our correspondent in the region, Grégory Plesse
“ Our city’s darkest day », This is the headline which was on the front page this Thursday of the Papuan daily, the Post Mailto describe the day before, during which 16 people died and dozens of businesses were looted and burned.
At the origin of this conflagration, a simple strike by police officers who, due to an administrative error, had not received their salary… As the latter were not on duty, hundreds of inhabitants of the capital were took the opportunity to attack shops and businesses.
Today, calm returned to the capital, where almost everything was closed, while the authorities called on the population to stay at home and brought in additional police officers from other regions.
But James Marape, the Prime Minister, nevertheless decided to establish a state of emergency for 14 days. He also mobilized a thousand soldiers, ready to lend a hand to the police if necessary to restore order.
Six members of his government nevertheless announced their resignation, believing that they no longer had confidence in him to lead the country. James Marape could face a motion of no confidence at the end of the month.
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