Police violently battling murderous gangs. Endemic violence, extreme poverty, obscene wealth and corruption on all levels. Welcome to Port-Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Last summer, a settling of scores between tribal clans left 32 dead. But that is nothing compared to what’s going on in the city. Here the police wage a merciless war against the Raskols gangs. In 2020, Port Moresby was ranked the 2nd most violent capital city in the world, just behind Caracas, Venezuela.
Women in particular pay a high price for this violence. 80% of men admit to beating their wives regularly. One in two women will be raped during their lifetime. There are only a few shelters they can turn to and their attackers are rarely prosecuted.
Corruption is also rife and for those with the right connections, PNG is an El Dorado. Thanks to its rich mineral deposits, the capital has experienced an unrivalled real estate boom in the past 10 years.