Twenty-three years ago, the Bougainville Peace Agreement ended the deadliest conflict in the South Pacific since World War II after a decade of fighting. The hard-won peace in what is now the Autonomous Region of Bougainville — made up of Papua New Guinea’s easternmost islands — has been regarded as a rare success story among contemporary peace processes. However, Bougainville’s political future remains unresolved. Despite Bougainvilleans voting overwhelmingly for independence in a 2019 nonbinding referendum, the ensuing consultations between the governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville have been slowed by delays and disputes, which risks heightening tensions as Bougainville’s aspirations for independence remain on hold.