The Bougainville Executive Council was sworn in on 21 October 2025. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama has reaffirmed his government's "bold and non-negotiable" vision to prepare the autonomous Papua New Guinea region for independence.
Toroama, who won in a landslide with more than 90,000 votes in the September polls, announced his new 14-member Cabinet - known as the Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) - last Tuesday.
The swearing-in ceremony was held on 21 October before Magistrate Bruce Tasikul, Bougainville House of Representatives MPs, Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) chief secretary, departmental heads, and senior officials including development partners.
Toroama has appointed Ezekiel Massat as his deputy and Minister for Justice and Independence Mission Implementation.
The only female minister in the government, Amanda Masono, has been given the fisheries, marine resources and climate change portfolio.
Bougainville is currently a self-governing region of Papua New Guinea. The relationship between PNG and Bougainville is governed by the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement. The region's status is guaranteed by the PNG Constitution.
In 2019, an overwhelming majority of Bougainvilleans - 97.7 percent - voted for independence from PNG.
Earlier this month, Toroama outlined his focus for the first 100 days in office during his inaugural statement at the swearing-in ceremony of the fifth Bougainville House of Representatives, with independence at the top of his list of priorities.
Toroama urged his Cabinet ministers to "work with urgency and purpose".
"We have just under two years to build the systems, pass the laws, train the people, and prove to the world - and to ourselves - that we are ready to govern a free and independent Bougainville," he said.
He also warned that should a minister fail to perform their duties to the standard expected, they risk being removed from office.
"The people of Bougainville deserve nothing less than our best efforts," he added.
