Last updated: 25 October 2026
As of October 2026, West Papua, Indonesia’s six easternmost provinces, remains affected by a long-running, low-level armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and separatist fighters. This year, attacks and military operations have killed civilians. In addition, the region has Indonesia’s highest poverty rates, and Pacific leaders raised Papua at the UN in September.
West Papua at a glance (October 2026)
| Area | Situation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Six provinces of Indonesia since 2022 | Where Is West Papua? |
| Security | Clashes continue; armed groups have killed civilians, and rights bodies say military operations have too | Reuters; BBC |
| Economy | All six provinces are among the seven with the highest poverty rates in Indonesia, as BPS data show | BPS |
| Development | Large national projects, such as the Merauke food estate, but also environmental concerns | Antara; The Jakarta Post |
| International | Solomon Islands and Vanuatu raised Papua at the UN General Assembly; however, Indonesia rejected the claims | Antara; BBC |
Is the conflict in Papua still going on?
Yes. In fact, Reuters describes a “low-level but increasingly deadly conflict” between security forces and separatists (Reuters). For example, these were key events in 2026:
| Date (2026) | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 11 February | First, gunmen shot dead the pilot and co-pilot of a Smart Air plane as it landed at Korowai, Boven Digoel. On the same day, an attack on a Freeport convoy near Tembagapura killed a soldier. The TPNPB claimed both attacks. | Reuters |
| April | Next, a military operation against separatists allegedly killed 15 people, including women and children. Indonesia’s human rights commission (Komnas HAM) confirmed the deaths; however, the military had not acknowledged them. | Reuters |
| 27 April | Then about 800 people protested in Jayapura demanding the withdrawal of the military; police used tear gas and a water cannon at one site. | Reuters |
| 2 July | Later, the TPNPB shot dead American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin and burned his plane in Yahukimo, calling the attack a “message” to the US and Indonesian governments. Even so, all seven Papuan passengers were safe. | Reuters |
| 9 September | Later, the TPNPB shot dead three civil servants in Wamena. | BBC News Indonesia |
| September | Meanwhile, military and police personnel shot six civilians in Samboga, Yahukimo, according to the Yahukimo church fellowship. | BBC News Indonesia |
Sources: Reuters, February; Reuters, April; Reuters, July; BBC News Indonesia.
Who is responsible for the violence?
However, the armed group and the military often give conflicting accounts of who caused deaths and injuries. In addition, a special committee of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council (DPD) visited the region and concluded that Papua is facing a humanitarian crisis. Similarly, the governor of Southwest Papua, Elisa Kambu, asked the central government to withdraw non-local troops from Maybrat, where residents of several districts have lived as displaced people since 2021 (BBC News Indonesia).
Also, for background on the armed groups, see What Are the OPM and the TPNPB?
👉 ALSO READ: What Are the OPM and the TPNPB? Papua’s Armed Separatist Groups Explained
How poor is West Papua?
In short, Papua’s provinces have the highest poverty rates in Indonesia. By comparison, in March 2026 the national poverty rate was 8.07%, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) (GoodStats):
| Province | People in poverty, March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Central Papua | 30.41% |
| Highland Papua | 26.34% |
| West Papua | 18.68% |
| South Papua | 18.54% |
| Papua | 18.39% |
| Southwest Papua | 16.49% |
| Indonesia (national) | 8.07% |
Source: BPS data as compiled by GoodStats (10 August 2026).
What development projects are under way?
Above all, the largest is the Merauke food estate in South Papua, a national strategic project covering about 2.3 million hectares for rice, sugarcane and other crops (The Star / The Jakarta Post). According to the government, the project will improve community welfare, together with new infrastructure and public facilities (Antara). However, critics raise environmental concerns. For example, in October 2026 the Papua-focused watchdog Pusaka Bentala Rakyat said fires linked to land clearing in the project area were worsening haze in Merauke (The Star / The Jakarta Post).
Also, for our coverage of food, roads and logistics in Papua, see Papua’s Potential as a Pacific Food and Logistics Hub.
What happened at the UN in 2026?
Notably, at the 81st UN General Assembly in September 2026, leaders from the Pacific, including Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale, called for independent verification of reported human rights violations in West Papua and for a long-awaited visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Antara; BBC News Indonesia).
In its right of reply on 28 September, however, Indonesia rejected “unilateral allegations of systematic human rights violations”, saying national institutions, including Komnas HAM, handle credible claims. It also pointed to civilians, teachers, health workers and officials whom armed groups had killed. Furthermore, it said Indonesia and the UN office must first agree on any visit by the High Commissioner (Antara).
How often is this page updated?
Papua Movement reviews this page regularly and therefore changes the “Last updated” date whenever the information changes. Finally, for the history behind today’s situation, see How Did Papua Become Part of Indonesia? and Why Do Some Papuans Seek Independence?
Sources
- Reuters: Attacks in Indonesia’s Papua kill three, hit plane and Freeport convoy (11 February 2026)
- Reuters: Clashes in Indonesia’s Papua as hundreds protest military presence (27 April 2026)
- Reuters: Indonesia recovers body of American pilot killed by rebels in Papua, military says (3 July 2026)
- BBC News Indonesia: Isu Papua kembali muncul di PBB, akankah hentikan konflik bersenjata? (2 October 2026, in Indonesian)
- Antara: Indonesia rejects claims of systematic right violations in Papua (29 September 2026)
- Antara: Merauke food estate to boost Papuan people’s welfare: govt (13 September 2024)
- GoodStats (BPS data): 10 Provinsi dengan Persentase Penduduk Miskin Tertinggi pada Maret 2026 (in Indonesian)
- The Star / The Jakarta Post: Fires at Papua food estate worsen haze pollution, raise environmental concerns (24 October 2026)
Featured image: A main road in Wamena, Highland Papua (2019). Photo: Spasimir Pilev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
