BY BEN BILUA
GIZO
A surge in mining activity in Isabel Province has ignited a wave of land disputes, tearing apart once united tribal alliances.
At Tatamba this week, the Local Court presided over 19 cases, with four directly linked to contested land boundaries in the Bugotu area.
The disputes involve land in the upper area of Lelegia Village, Kolosori, and parts of San Jorge Island.
Reports reaching Island Sun reveal that even longstanding tribal allies are now turning on each other in a rush to claim land titles—motivated by the lucrative promise of mining.
Mostyn Pheni, a respected elder from Huali, described the current situation as “insane.”
“These land issues are not random—they are born from mining. It’s disturbing to see allies become enemies over land they once shared,” he said.
Pheni added that such cases were unheard of in his youth.
“I’m over 70 years old now, and I’ve never seen land issues rise like this before. It’s funny, and sad, that in the 21st century, we’re fighting over things we once agreed on,” he said.
As mining interest grows, communities that once thrived on cooperation now face deep divisions.
For many elders, the damage to relationships may be greater than the land lost.
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