Part 2/12:
Among the regions seeking independence, Bougainville is considered the most probable candidate to become an independent country soon. The movement for independence dates back to the 1880s when Bougainville was colonized by Germany, subsequently transitioning to Australian control after World War I under a League of Nations mandate. The discovery of vast copper and gold deposits in the late 20th century exacerbated tensions between the indigenous population and the Australian colonial government, which reigned in Papua New Guinea (PNG) after its independence in 1975.