Papua New Guinea, known for its rich cultural heritage and complex history, is now grappling with disturbing allegations of cannibalism.
The revelation has not only shocked the nation but also reignited international attention on lingering stereotypes that the country has tried to shed for decades.
The controversy began after a major national newspaper published photographs of a group of men armed with machetes, one of them holding a severed human leg.
A Deeply Troubling incident
In one image, a man appears to lick the limb, according to Digi24.
Although no act of cannibalism was directly captured, the graphic nature of the images and their circulation on social media has sparked widespread condemnation.
Minister of Police Peter Tsiamalili described the incident as deeply troubling.
"A violent confrontation between two brothers escalated into a heartbreaking result," he told AFP, revealing that villagers had been drawn into the conflict, which ended in the younger brother killing his elder sibling.
In a statement, Tsiamalili called the acts "barbaric" and said:
"Such behavior does not define us as a people or as a nation. These acts shock our collective conscience and threaten the values that bind us together."
The images and videos were traced to Goilala District in the central region of the country. Police believe the crime occurred about a month ago.
Tsiamalili emphasized the importance of distancing the nation from its historical association with cannibalism, which has long been sensationalized despite being a rare and largely historical practice in isolated tribal communities.
Historically, some tribes in Papua New Guinea practiced ritualistic cannibalism, a fact that has fueled enduring and harmful stereotypes. The government has worked for years to dispel such perceptions.
The issue was amplified internationally when, in 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden speculated that his uncle, who disappeared in Papua New Guinea during World War II, may have been a victim of cannibalism.
Prime Minister James Marape dismissed the claim, attributing it to a "misunderstanding" by the American leader.
