Papua New Guinea’s first prime minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, who took the country to independence from Australia, has died in Port Moresby at the age of 84.
Mr Somare headed the nation four times and was its longest-serving leader, including as chief minister before decolonisation in 1975.
His family in a statement said he passed away on Friday morning from pancreatic cancer in a Port Moresby hospital.
“It is with great sadness that I on behalf of Lady Veronica Somare announce the passing of her beloved husband, the father of her children and grandchildren and great grandchild Sir Michael Thomas Somare at 12am on Friday 25 February 2021,” the family said.
“Sir Michael was only diagnosed with a late stage of pancreatic cancer in early February and was admitted to hospital on 19 Friday, 2021. We as a family had only two weeks to look for possible treatments for our father.”
“We are endeared that many Papua New Guineans equally embraced Sir Michael as father and grandfather.”
More to come.
