Press Release

The United Nations Secretary-General reaffirms UN support to both parties of the Bougainville Peace Agreement – September 2025

04 September 2025

The United Nations Secretary-General wishes to thank the leadership of the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government, for the opportunity to discuss the Bougainville peace process during his visit to Papua New Guinea.

The Secretary-General informed the leaders that the United Nations is proud to walk this journey with you both, as we have done for over 24 years. You have shown the world the path of healing, through dialogue, perseverance, and mutual respect.

Photo: © @United Nations in PNG

The Secretary-General said the Melanesian Agreement, signed in June, exemplifies both parties’ willingness to engage in the difficult conversations and that the United Nations remains committed to supporting both parties as jointly requested by the two governments.

The United Nations is a neutral partner to the process and remains committed to supporting both parties equally in the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the Melanesian Agreement, in achieving a lasting peace.

 


                                                               Mr. Richard Howard, 
                                                               Resident Coordinator
                                                    United Nations in Papua New Guinea
 

Mr. Richard S. Howard

Richard Howard

RCO
Resident Coordinator
rcs-uninpng-office@un.org
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Mr Richard Howard is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea.

Over more than 30 years, he has acquired an impressive portfolio in management and research, economic growth, gender equality and inclusion.

Before taking up his role in PNG, Mr Howard was the United Nations Resident Coordinator ad-interim in Nepal, where he also served as Country Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Mr. Howard worked as Senior Regional Specialist with ILO in Thailand. He was Chief Technical Advisor to Private Sector Partnerships on Health for Internal Migrants, in China.

A Fulbright Scholar in Indonesia with research focusing on gender, ethnicity, and national identity, Mr Howard is a Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology from the University of Illinois, Chicago and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina.

On 7 December 2022, he was appointed by the UN Secretary-General as the UN Resident Coordinator for Papua New Guinea.

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