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Central Papua, officially the Central Papua Province (), is an Indonesian province located in the central region of Western New Guinea. It was formally established on 25 July 2022 from the former eight western regencies of the province of Papua. It covers an area of 61,072.91 km2 and had an officially estimated population of 1,472,910 in mid 2024 (comprising 784,670 males and 688,240 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Provinsi Papua Tengah Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.94) It is bordered by the Indonesian provinces of West Papua to the west, the province of Papua to the north and northeast, by Highland Papua to the east, and by South Papua to the southeast. The administrative capital is located in Wanggar District in Nabire Regency, although Timika (in Mimika Regency) is a larger town. Its traditional name is Mee Pago – Saireri.
Central Papua is bordered by seas to the north and south. Nabire is situated in the northern part of Central Papua, Indonesia. This lowland area is directly adjacent to the Teluk Cenderawasih National Park and boasts immense potential for marine tourism including coral reefs, white sandy islands, and whale sharks in their natural habitat. The southern part of Central Papua is mostly swampy terrain and the location of the port of Amamapare and Timika, the largest town in this province. The central region of Central Papua is dominated by the Jayawijaya Mountains, which encompasses the snow-capped Puncak Jaya, the highest peak in Indonesia. This mountain range is also home to the Grasberg mine, operated by Freeport Indonesia.
The provincial border roughly follows the cultural region of Mee Pago and parts of Saireri.
The trading centre of the region is Kipia, led by a leader named Naowa, who received the title of king from Lamora, Namatota (Koiwai) King. Kipia led a confederation of Kamoro villages called Tarya We, along with Poraoka, Maparpe, Wumuka, Umar, and Aindua. They co-operated because the region lacked sago and intimidated the more fertile region to the east with and minaki (firearms) received from trade. Meanwhile, in the east there was a major war called the Tipuka War where Tipuka village was destroyed by Koperapoka assisted by a coalition of Mware, Pigapu, Hiripau, and Miyoko which was thought to be revenge for Tipuka kidnapping people for trade. This trade relationship and influence from the Moluccas gradually disappeared with the strengthening of Dutch colonialism, and the influx of Catholic missionaries and Chinese traders.
During the Round Table Conference on 27 December 1949. The Dutch East Indies government issued a proclamation stating that the territory of Papua controlled by the Dutch East Indies would be under the jurisdiction of a gubernemen called the New Guinea Gouvernement. Later in 1952 New Guinea was designated as an overseas province of the Netherlands. Dutch New Guinea was officially divided into four Afdeling on 10 May 1952. The district of Central New Guinea was one of the four afdelings and included Paniai Lakes as an onderafdeling. However, unlike the other districts, the Central New Guinea afdeling did not have a capital city. The New Guinea Government underwent further reorganisation in 1954 and the Central New Guinea afdeling was temporarily placed directly under the supervision of the Resident of Geelvinkbaai (now Cenderawasih Bay).
Before his death in early August 1982, Busiri put forward three different proposals for the division of the province, which were considered by Kompas journalist Korano Nicolash LMS as the first concept that "contained a comprehensive and detailed division of Irian Jaya into three provinces". One of Busiri's proposals was to divide Irian Jaya into three provinces, namely East Irian Jaya, Central Irian Jaya, and West Irian Jaya. The Central Irian Jaya province consisted of the districts of Mapurajaya, Nabire, Enarotali (Paniai), Mulia, Yapen-Waropen (Serui), and Teluk Cenderawasih (Biak). Although this expansion proposal was never realised, President Suharto approved the division of Irian Jaya into three assistant governorates in 1984.
After Irian Jaya was renamed Papua in 2000, demands for the division of Papua province resurfaced. On 23 August 2003, (Chairman of the Mimika DPRD), Jacobus Muyapa (Chairman of the Paniai DPRD), and Philip Wona (Regent of Yapen Waropen) declared the formation of Central Papua province. As a result of the declaration, the community in the Central Papua region was polarised into two groups, those who supported and those who rejected the division of Central Papua province. The two groups fought and held each other hostage for about a week until finally the central government issued a decision to postpone the division of the province on 28 August. The two parties finally decided to reconcile the day after the decision was issued by the central government. The fighting left five people dead and dozens injured.
After the enactment of the Law on Regional Autonomy, proposals for the formation of new regions began to emerge so that the number of regencies and cities increased rapidly. In 2008, the area now comprising Central Papua Region itself expanded from four regencies to eight. The eastern part of Paniai Regency was split off to form a Intan Jaya Regency, the Paniai area around Lake Tigi was split off to form a Deiyai Regency, the southern side of Nabire Regency was separated into a regency called Dogiyai Regency, and finally the western part of Puncak Jaya Regency was split off to form a Puncak Regency.
After the approval of the bill for the creation of the province on 30 June 2022, controversy regarding the capital of the new province resulted in mass demonstrations in Timika. Residents of the town argued that the provincial capital should be in Timika instead of Nabire, due to Timika's contribution to the province's economy through the presence of Freeport-McMoRan in their regency. Protesters also argued that the last 20 years of the effort by locals to support the creation of Central Papua province was always with Timika as capital and not Nabire. The protesters also threatened to close the Freeport mine by force if their demand to be the capital of the new province was not heard. However, figures from Nabire further argued that Nabire is a more suitable capital because it is free from intervention from the mining company on its development and also that Nabire has a higher percentage of native Papuans compared to Timika. Social conflict between residents of Nabire and Timika regarding the position of the new provincial capital was described by the Rev. Dora Balubun, representative from GKI Papua regional synod, as a dangerous side effect of the creation of the new province., Nabire Regency]]
On 25 July 2022, Indonesian President Joko Widodo passed Law Number 15 of Year 2022 Concerning the Establishment of Central Papua Province as the basis for the establishment of the province. The Wate people community fully supports the location of the capital in Nabire with the use of an additional 300 hectares of land located in Karadiri II Village, Wanggar District, Nabire Regency to become the central government facility ( Praspem) of Central Papua Province. To support the new provincial capital, the Central Papua Government also plans to build a new airport in Wanggar. This airport project has actually been built from 2019 to 2021, but was not completed and abandoned due to budget shortages. As of 22 February 2024, the new Douw Aturure Nabire Airport has been in use.
Central Papua can be split into three main areas: the Cenderawasih Bay region in the north, which consists of lowlands and coastal areas and is where the provincial capital in Nabire Regency is located; the New Guinea Highlands in the middle; and the lowlands and coast in the south, which is where Mimika Regency is situated. The New Guinea Highlands, also known as the Jayawijaya Mountains or Sudirman Range, run through the center of Papua Island, stretching from Central Papua to Papua New Guinea. These mountains boast several peaks rising over 4,000 meters above sea level. Puncak Jaya, the highest peak in Indonesia and Oceania, stands at over 4,800 meters above sea level and is covered by Carstensz Glacier. These mountains serve as the source of water for major rivers that flow both north and south. Among the mountains lie numerous valleys, reaching altitudes of over 1,500 meters above sea level, serving as settlements for indigenous tribes, for example the Mee people. Within this region, three sizable lakes known as Paniai Lakes consisting of Lake Paniai, Tigi, and Tage are found. The capitals of Paniai and Deiyai are situated on the shores of these lakes. They serve as vital sources of freshwater fisheries for the local communities. The fertile land in these valleys makes them ideal for agriculture, primarily cultivating sweet potatoes, a staple food. Additionally, there are endeavors to grow other crops such as the Moanemani variety of coffee in the Kamuu Valley in Dogiyai. Despite their fertility, certain areas are vulnerable to frost due to extremely cold temperatures, leading to crop failure. Tragically, famine disaster ensued, claiming lives, for example in Agandugume and Lambewi in Puncak Regency. The lack of adequate infrastructure and the prevalence of Free Papua Organization terrorist activities pose significant challenges in delivering aid to these affected areas.
The lowland areas of Central Papua have flatter terrains, fostering rapid development and drawing in numerous immigrants, particularly in bustling hubs like Timika, one of the region's largest cities, and Nabire, the provincial capital. Both Nabire and Mimika are key destinations for transmigration program, along with the establishment of rice fields and oil palm plantations. Despite being lowland areas, Mimika's southern region primarily comprises Southern New Guinea lowland rain forests ecoregion, resembling South Papua, alongside mangrove zones inhabited by the Kamoro and Sempan tribes. The Nabire coast is part of the Teluk Cenderawasih National Park, featuring pristine white sandy beaches, islands, and waters teeming with diverse marine life, including whale sharks and vibrant coral reefs.
The northern area of Mimika Regency are within the Jayawijaya Mountains, home to the Grasberg mine operated by Freeport Indonesia for gold mining purposes. To support its operations, Freeport established a small town called Tembagapura. Unfortunately, the waste or tailings from this mining activity is discharged into rivers in Mimika, including the Ajkwa and Otomona Rivers, resulting in their contamination and abundance of mud. Despite the environmental impact, people from surrounding this area utilize this mud to search for residual gold using basic tools.
The province now forms one of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the People's Representative Council. The Central Papua Electoral District consists of all of the 8 regencies in the province and elects 3 members to the People's Representative Council.Law No. 7/2017 ( UU No. 7 Tahun 2017) as amended by Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2022 and Regulation of General Elections Commission No. 6/2023.
Koteka is a traditional male genital covering worn by various inland tribes in the mountainous regions of Central Papua, including the Amungme, Damal, Mee, Moni, and Wano tribes. It is crafted from a calabash (Lagenaria siceraria), hollowed out and scorched. During the New Order era, the government initiated Operation Koteka to phase out the use of koteka and encourage the adoption of modern clothing. This included a strategy of air-dropping tens of tons of clothing into the interior regions. While the everyday use of koteka has gradually declined, they are still preserved and worn on special occasions or for tourism purposes. The art of wood carving thrives among tribes residing along the southern coast of Papua, notably the Asmat people in South Papua and the Kamoro tribe in Mimika, situated on the southern coast of Central Papua. While Asmat carving enjoys global recognition, Kamoro carving art, also known as "maramowe," is relatively lesser known. Efforts are underway to promote Kamoro carving and facilitate wider market access for its artisans. This intricate art form encompasses various creations such as "yamate" (shields), "wemawe" (human statues), and "mbitoro" (ancestral poles). Mbitoro, crafted from mangrove wood and adorned with intricate carvings of human figures, bears resemblance to the Bisj poles crafted by the Asmat tribe. These mbitoro poles are often prominently displayed in front of Karapau traditional houses, serving as significant cultural symbols. Traditional houses in Central Papua exhibit diverse architectural styles influenced by the culture and geographical features of each region. Examples include the Honai of the Dani people (Lani people) in Puncak Jaya, the emawa house of the Mee people in Paniai, Deiyai, and Dogiyai, and the karapao house of the Kamoro tribe in Mimika. The Mee tribe resides in the highlands near Lakes Paniai, Tigi, and Tage. Their traditional houses are modest yet functional, typically constructed with wooden walls and thatched roofs made from leaves or alang-alang grass. The emawa house of the Mee tribe comprises three main sections: an attic for storing arrows, firewood, and other items; a middle room containing a bed and a fire pit; and the ground level beneath the house, as these structures are built on stilts to adapt to the region's fluctuating lake and river levels. Additionally, the Mee tribe categorizes their traditional houses into "jame owaa" for men, "kegita owaa" for women, and "uguwo owaa" for families.
Mimika Regency holds significant potential in fisheries, prompting the central government to establish an Integrated Maritime and Fisheries Center ( Sentra Kelautan dan Perikaran Terpadu or SKPT) in 2017 to bolster the local economy. SKPT Mimika has proven to be quite successful, yielding tens of thousands of tons of fish annually, including mackerel, lemuru, Ariidae, Sciaenidae, black pomfret, and Eeltail catfish. A considerable portion of the frozen fish is transported to major cities like Surabaya, Jakarta, Jayapura, and Merauke, while some are exported abroad to countries like Malaysia and Singapore. SKPT Mimika boasts comprehensive facilities such as a frozen warehouse and ice factory, attracting numerous fishing vessels to dock. Positioned in frontier area, SKPT aims to stimulate economic development in the region.
Teluk Cenderawasih National Park is a marine National Park situated on the border of West Papua and Central Papua, specifically in Nabire. It stands as a tourist destination with abundant natural treasures, characterized by azure seas adorned with pristine white sandy islands and coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life. In addition to its scenic beauty, visitors can also experience thrilling dives alongside whale sharks ( Rhincodon typus), a majestic species found in Kwatisore.
The Jayawijaya Mountains stand as a towering mountain range in Papua, housing the highest peak in Indonesia and Oceania. This pinnacle, known as Puncak Jaya, Cartensz Pyramid, or Nemangkawi, reaches a staggering height of 4,884 meters. As Oceania's highest mountain, Puncak Jaya holds a coveted place among the Seven Summits, a list of the highest peaks on each continent as recognized by legendary climber Reinhold Messner. Conquering these seven summits is a dream pursued by mountaineers worldwide. Puncak Jaya's majestic summit is adorned with icecap, although this precious feature is under threat from the impacts of climate change. Lorentz National Park is a sprawling protected area located at the confluence of three provinces: Highland Papua, Central Papua, and South Papua. Encompassing an expansive 2.5 million hectares, it stands as the largest national park in Southeast Asia and holds the title of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Renowned for its diverse ecosystems, Lorentz National Park spans from snow-capped mountains to lush tropical rainforests and extensive swamp areas, providing habitat for numerous endemic species. Established in 1997, the park is currently overseen by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Among its inhabitants are several indigenous tribes, including the Amung people tribe in the highlands and the Kamoro tribe in the lowlands.
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