26/09/2025
///Island Warrior Returns to Power by landslide Victory///
By BIM Corporate Author
In the North Solomons Archipelago, democracy had presided in the past days as the islandsโ Top leader, Ishmael Toroama - the Island warrior, submitted himself for test by peopleโs power in this yearโs 2025 ABG Election.
Amongst the many contested posts, the top most is the presidential post which has been the seat highly contested in Bougainville by the most influential people. Given the historical context on the islandsโ aspiration for independence, presidential post has never been the laid-back post of the random Bougainvilleans. It has been a fearless warriorโs post for the hardline independence pro leaders.
After decade long civil war when first Autonomous Government was established, Late Joseph Kabui was elected to the president given his strong nationalist stance for Bougainville independence, followed by James Tanis (2007-2010), John Momis (2010- 2020), and Ishmael Toroama (2020 โ 2025), all of whom are strong hardliners for outright independence for Bougainville.
In the past few weeks as the counting progressed, Ishmael Toroama who contested under Peopleโs Alliance Party led with an overwhelming margin and won the race with primary count of 90,443 well circumventing the absolute majority of 69,629. The Second runner up was Joe Lera who polls the vote of 17,225 followed by Sam Kauona with the vote of 13,107. The other candidates namely; Nick Peniai, Thomas Raivet, Loius Smith and Wilfred Mage polls less than 7000 votes.
Sam Kauona, the third runner up was the former PNGDF Personnel later turned to be the Former General of the then Republican Army of Bougainville during the civil war and was the former Military strategists of the Bougainville Interim Government led by then Francis Ona and Joseph Kabui. He ran as an independent candidate. Joe Lera, Thomas Raivet and Nick Penia were the former public servants raced under New Bougainville party. Will smith and Wilfred Magei were unpopular candidates in the public arena in Bougainville.
Despite few challenges and baseless claim of election rigging by some Presidential Candidates on the electoral process, the Island Warrior backs by strong display of the peopleโs power and finished high. The official declaration of his presidency reign was held at Hutjena today at around 3PM BST.
Toroama was once just another young man of the island, born into a generation that witnessed the collapse of order, the suffocation of dreams, and the cry of a wounded land. In the wake of oppressive mining practices and systemic marginalization, his homeland, once dubbed the โparadise of the Pacific,โ spiraled into chaos. In his youth, Toroama, alongside many others, took to the jungles. Armed with conviction, he joined the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and rose swiftly to the rank of Commander, leading a guerrilla war that cost over 20,000 lives.
But as the battlefields fell silent and when the peace dialogue began, Toroama transformed. He became not just a commander of arms, but a commander of thought, participating in critical negotiations that would pave the path to peace. Standing alongside peace-seeking leaders like the late Joseph Kabui, Toroama chose dialogue over destruction, diplomacy over division.
When Bougainville fractured into opposing visions in 1997, between the defiant stance of Francis Ona and the peaceful advocacy of Kabui, Toroama sided with peace. It was a defining decision, one that set him on a course of statesmanship and moral leadership. He became a signatory of the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement, and ever since, has guarded its spirit with unwavering loyalty.
Through the creation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Toroama worked tirelessly, not only to maintain peace but to prepare the people for the political destiny they long dreamed of. And in 2019, when the long-awaited referendum returned an overwhelming 97.7% vote in favor of independence, it was Toroama who was entrusted by the people to carry the Bougainvilleans forward.
The past term of Toroamaโs leadership has been deliberate and strategic. From the Kokopo Consultation in 2021, to the Wabag and Era Kone dialogues, he steered Bougainville through complex negotiations with the Government of Papua New Guinea. When talks reached a stalemate, he supported the appointment of an independent moderator who was a New Zealandโs former Governor General, Sir Jerry Mataparae. Through difficult compromises, they crafted the Melanesian Relationship Agreement, a roadmap granting Bougainville interim sovereign powers as it builds capacity toward full independence.
Whilst most Independence foundations laid in Toroamaโs first tenure remains critical yet fragile, the aggregate Bougainvilleans stood firm and voted back Ishmael Toroama for the second term of presidency in hope for him to spear head and completes the last leg of Independence process for Bougainville.
