By Omotosho Victor Fiyinfoluwa (SIWES student,Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti)
Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, James Marape, has declared a 14-day state of emergency in the capital after 15 people were killed in riots triggered by protests over unexplained pay deductions for soldiers, police officers, and prison guards.
The violence quickly spread to other areas, prompting Marape to deploy over 1,000 troops to contain the situation.
Chinese-owned businesses were reportedly targeted, leading to a complaint from Beijing. Despite the government’s promise to address the payroll issue, unrest continued, revealing the challenges faced by the country, marked by poverty and high crime rates.
