In Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province, a marked reduction in violence has followed the appointment of Australian-born Steven Harris as police commander earlier this year. When Harris assumed leadership of the province’s police force in February, the area was experiencing a monthly average of around 70 murders. That figure has now dropped to fewer than 10 per month, according to Harris, who attributes the improvement to stringent enforcement of the law and a refusal to tolerate tribal conflict and armed attacks.
Enga has long been troubled by tribal warfare exacerbated by the availability of automatic firearms, including M16s, and the involvement of armed mercenaries. Traditionally, tribal disputes were limited and controlled, often fought with bows and arrows under the oversight of clan leaders. Harris says the arrival of modern weapons and the corruption of customary mediation have transformed these conflicts into organised crime, increasing casualties and social disruption. A recent estimate puts the death toll from tribal fighting in Enga at nearly 5,000 over two decades.
Violence in the province is frequently brutal, with reports of gender-based violence and attacks on civilians. Harris cited incidents including a mother fatally shot while shielding her child and horrific acts of violence against children. Authorities estimate thousands have been displaced due to ongoing unrest.
The commander's focus on law enforcement over mediation marks a deliberate shift from traditional dispute resolution approaches, which Harris argues often breed bias and fail to ensure accountability. “You can’t mediate murder,” he said. His team enforces arrests and aims to restore order through the courts rather than negotiation.
Harris has faced direct violence in the field, including an incident involving automatic gunfire from tribal fighters that he described as the first time he had fired his weapon in a confrontation. PNG Prime Minister James Marape publicly praised Harris and his team for their professionalism and resilience during the attack, calling it “cowardly and calculated.”
The policing operation under Harris encompasses six districts in Enga, with about 600 officers serving a population of roughly 600,000. The force includes both local Engans and officers brought in from other parts of the country, with Harris emphasizing that officers uphold integrity above clan loyalty despite traditional patronage practices known as the “wantok” system.
His appointment follows appeals by PNG officials for increased policing resources to counter the escalating violence. Australian Federal Police officers have supported PNG police for years but were previously restricted from frontline roles due to constitutional limitations. The current arrangement allows foreign officers, including Harris, to fully assume law enforcement responsibilities in PNG, taking an oath affirming their commitment and accountability under PNG law.
One ongoing hotspot remains the Porgera goldmine region, where disputes over landowner benefits and illegal mining have led to renewed violence. The mine accounts for a significant portion of PNG’s exports, underscoring the wider national implications of instability in Enga.
Despite enduring challenges, Harris reports strong community support and improved security conditions in provincial centres such as Wabag. He describes the majority of Enga’s residents as peaceful and committed to restoring stability amid efforts to dismantle the influence of criminalised tribal factions. Harris’s stance reflects a broader push by PNG authorities to reassert rule of law and curb the cycle of tribal violence that has affected the province for decades.