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Presidential elections were held in Bougainville (an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea) from November 30 to December 18, 2008. Voters elected the new President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, following the death of President Joseph Kabui while in office, on June 7.
The potential resumption of controversial mining activities, which were at the root of Bougainville's civil war in the 1990s, was reportedly a key issue in this election.
The two main candidates appeared to be Papua New Guinea's former mining minister Sam Akoitai and former rebel soldier Sam Kaouna. In total, 14 candidates stood in the election.
James Tanis, a former separatist who came third in the 2005 election behind Kabui and the former governor John Momis, won the election, as announced on 28 December 2008. He was sworn in on 6 January 2009.