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The process under way for the possible introduction of a new member to the global family of nations. The people of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea have overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum. The vote held on the island between the 23rd of November and the 7th of December. The vote was a non-binding referendum, which the Papua New Guinea (PNG) government does not to pass it into law. However, PNG the vote its full consent and should now acting on the result of the vote. Voters two options - greater autonomy or full independence. Over 181,000 people their ballot and nearly 98 per cent of them in favour of independence.

Bougainville is the largest island of the PNG chain of islands. It geographically part of the Solomon Islands archipelago and used to be as the Republic of North Solomons. It a population of around 250,000 people. Bougainvilleans a fight to achieve their independence in the 1960s. This a decade before Papua New Guinea was independence in 1975. Bougainville was part of PNG in 1976. This the Bougainville Civil War between 1988–1998. Over 20,000 people their lives in that conflict. The Prime Minister of PNG said: "I ask for some time for the people of PNG to and process this result." He said his government was committed to adhering to the poll's result.