Ishmael Toroama

Toroama was born in Roreinang in the Kieta District in Central Bougainville on 28 February 1969 and educated at the local school and at Hutjena High School.{{cite web |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/bougainville-declares-new-president-today/ |title=Bougainville Declares New President Today |publisher=PNG Post-Courier |date=23 September 2020 |accessdate=23 September 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/10347c18-cf0e-4acd-919c-54b085a80eac/content |title=An Assessment of Bougainville’s President Toroama Part One: A Little-known New Leader |publisher=Australian National University |date=December 2021 |access-date=2 July 2025}} After dropping out of school, he worked for the Tonolei Development Corporation.

Toroama joined the Bougainville Revolutionary Army in the early days of the Bougainville Civil War and quickly became one of its field commanders.{{cite journal |url=https://asopa.typepad.com/files/the-gangs-of-bougainville.pdf |title=The Gangs of Bougainville: Seven Men, Guns and a Copper Mine |last=Starygin |first=Stan |journal=Journal of Conflict Transformation & Security |date=April 2013 |pages=58–61 |accessdate=22 September 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305224157/https://asopa.typepad.com/files/the-gangs-of-bougainville.pdf |url-status=dead }} In 1997 he was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade.{{cite web |url=https://www.pngattitude.com/2020/09/ishmael-toroama-rebel-peace-maker-farmer-leader.html |title=Ishmael Toroama – rebel, peace-maker, farmer, leader |author=Keith Jackson |publisher=PNG Attitude |date=22 September 2020 |accessdate=22 September 2020}} In 1999 he became the BRA's chief of defence, succeeding Sam Kauona. As chief of defence, he was one of the signatories of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and opposed the breakaway faction under Francis Ona. Following the conflict, he enriched himself by becoming a broker in the reconciliation process, then providing "protection" to local businesses. He later became a cocoa farmer.{{cite web |url=http://www.abg.gov.pg/index.php/news/read/ishmael-spends-more-time-on-cocoa-farming |title=Ishmael spends more time on cocoa farming |publisher= |date=22 August 2017 |accessdate=22 September 2020}}

Toroama repeatedly ran unsuccessfully for office following the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the establishment of the Autonomous Bougainville Government. In the 2010 Bougainvillean general election he ran unsuccessfully for the seat of South Nasioi, and in the 2012 Papua New Guinean general election he failed to win the seat of Central Bougainville. In the 2015 Bougainvillean general election he ran for President, coming second to John Momis.{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-08/john-momis-re-elected-as-bougainville-president-securing-abo/6529168 | title=John Momis re-elected as Bougainville president, securing more than 50pc of votes | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=9 June 2015 |accessdate=22 September 2020}}

In December 2019 he announced his intention to stand for president in the 2020 Bougainvillean general election.{{cite web |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/toroama-makes-known-intention-to-stand-for-presidency/ |title=Toroama makes known intention to stand for presidency |publisher=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier |date=6 December 2019 |accessdate=22 September 2020}} He subsequently launched the Bougainville People’s Alliance Party to contest the Bougainville House of Representatives.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/prominent-bougainvilleans-make-moves-towards-elections/ |title=Prominent Bougainvilleans make moves towards elections |publisher=Fiji Times |date=20 June 2020 |accessdate=22 September 2020}} He performed well in the election, leading the count at the 21st elimination,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/426658/former-bra-man-consolidates-bougainville-presidency-lead |title=Former BRA man consolidates Bougainville presidency lead |publisher=RNZ |date=22 September 2020 |accessdate=22 September 2020}} and ultimately winning the presidency.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/23/bougainville-independence-high-on-agenda-as-ishmael-toroama-elected-president |title=Bougainville independence high on agenda as Ishmael Toroama elected president |author=Leanne Jorari and Ben Doherty |publisher=The Guardian |date=23 September 2020 |accessdate=23 September 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/22/world/asia/bougainville-election-rebel-president.html |title=Former Rebel Leader Is Elected President of Bougainville |work=New York Times |date=23 September 2020 |accessdate=23 September 2020}} He was formally sworn in as president on 25 September 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/426910/bougainville-s-toroama-sworn-in-as-president |title=Bougainville's Toroama sworn in as President |publisher=RNZ |date=25 September 2020 |accessdate=25 September 2020}} He appointed his Cabinet on 2 October 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/427465/bougainville-s-toroama-forms-a-14-member-cabinet |title=Bougainville's Toroama forms a 14 member Cabinet |publisher=RNZ |date=2 October 2020 |accessdate=2 October 2020}}

Ishmael Toroama is married to Betty Toroama, with whom he has 3 children: Doreen, Esau, and Victor.{{cite web |last1=Zarriga |first1=Miriam |title=Missionary’s son Ishmael elected President |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/missionarys-son-ishmael-elected-president/ |website=The National |accessdate=18 November 2020 |date=24 September 2020}}

{{reflist}}

{{Presidents of Bougainville}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toroama, Ishmael}}

Category:Bougainvillean politicians

Category:Living people

Category:1969 births

Category:Presidents of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Category:People from Bougainville Island

Category:Bougainvillean rebels

Category:21st-century Papua New Guinean politicians