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Papua New Guinea’s Corruption Crisis: A Threat to Stability and Development

Port Moresby - Papua New Guinea (PNG) has long been plagued by corruption, with the country’s leaders frequently changing allegiances for pragmatic reasons. The non-renewable resources sector is particularly prone to graft, with very few cases of corruption being successfully prosecuted.

Corruption in PNG

According to Transparency International, PNG is perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the Pacific region, alongside Solomon Islands. Vote-buying is rampant, and the business sector is also seen as corrupt.

Limited Efforts to Combat Organized Crime

The country’s commitment to international efforts to combat organized crime is limited, with PNG not being a signatory to key treaties such as the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime or the Arms Trade Treaty. The country has extradition treaties in place with some countries, but lacks similar agreements with others where citizens are involved in organized crime.

Criminal Justice System Struggles

The judiciary in PNG remains generally independent, but is poorly resourced, leading to lengthy detentions and trial delays. Courts are slow to administer justice, with backlog cases going back several years. The country lacks an adequate number of judges and magistrates, and the system is considered antiquated.

Prison Conditions

Prison conditions are poor, understaffed, unhygienic, and overcrowded, making it difficult for correctional services to prevent mass prison escapes. Lengthy delays in cases and pretrial detentions lead to frustration among prisoners, who often attempt to escape.

Law Enforcement Limited

The capacity of law enforcement agencies to tackle organized crime is extremely limited due to a lack of resources, training, and infrastructure. Corruption within the police force is rampant, with officers involved in drug trafficking, illegal arms trading, fuel theft, murder, and rape.

Economic and Financial Environment

Despite not being officially considered a strategic money laundering risk, PNG’s forestry crimes generate more profits than the legal timber market. Money laundering prosecutions have been hindered by a lack of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the financial intelligence unit (FIU).

PNG’s economy is heavily reliant on agricultural, forestry, fishing, and mining sectors, but chronic youth unemployment remains a significant issue. The informal sector employs most of the population, but lacks regulation and enforcement, leading to widespread labour and sexual exploitation.

State support for victims of organized crime is extremely limited, especially for those affected by human trafficking. International and local civil society organizations provide most services, but lack resources and political will to effectively address the issue.

The government has increased efforts to prevent trafficking, but measures to prevent forced labour in the logging industry are negligible. The media environment is relatively free, with journalists often criticising the government and covering controversial topics. However, there have been cases of targeted abuse towards journalists, and some outlets have been accused of providing overly positive coverage to the government.

The country’s civil society organizations, particularly churches, provide victim support, but their capacity is limited due to a lack of funding. Few organizations work on issues related to organized crime, highlighting the need for increased resources and coordination to combat this pervasive problem.