WAMENA, HIGHLAND PAPUA, INDONESIA – MAY, 2026 Violent clashes broke out between local communities, rooted in an older dispute and a traditional system of conflict resolution. The situation subsequently escalated into widespread intercommunal violence, in which people were killed not only in direct clashes but also when a suspension bridge collapsed.
The roots of the conflict went back to a traffic accident in 2024, in which a member of the Lanny Jaya regional parliament died. The dispute between the communities was subsequently addressed through customary law. The parties agreed on compensation of 2 billion Indonesian rupiah (approximately $110,000) and 30 pigs. When the compensation was paid on May 6, 2026, its amount or the way it was handed over allegedly did not correspond to the original agreement, reigniting tensions.
The situation escalated on May 7, when a group of people crossing the Wouma suspension bridge over the Uwe River caused it to collapse. According to police, the bridge was probably overloaded. Dozens of people fell into the river, and some of them were swept away by the strong current. Rescue teams found and evacuated 24 victims over the following days.
The bridge collapse further intensified the existing conflict. Subsequent clashes between the Lanny/Lani and Hubla groups spread to several locations throughout Wamena, with attacks and house burnings also reported. As of May 15, fighting was taking place, for example, around Jalan Diponegoro and Pasar Wouma.
It is important to distinguish between victims of the intercommunal fighting and victims of the bridge collapse. Media reports gave figures of around 37 to 40 deaths, but police warned that there was considerable confusion over the actual number of victims during the initial stages. Some people were even mistakenly reported as dead despite being alive. The actual number of victims of the fighting is estimated at 13.
