The Autonomous Bougainville Government is planning to ask countries in the region to provide a security team to ensure safety during the region's referendum process.
Some time before mid 2020, but with a tentative date of 15 June 2019, Bougainville is to hold a vote on possible independence from Papua New Guinea.
The region is currently preparing for the vote and in recent weeks there have been events to mark the handing of illegal weapons and govenrment officials have said they want all regions to be gun free by the end of next month.
The referendum is the culmination of the Bougainville Peace Agreement which formally ended the ten year long bloody civil war.
The Bougainville President John Momis told Don Wiseman why they are seeking foreign help with security.
President of the autonomous Bougainville government, John Momis. Photo: RNZI
