Benny Wenda

Wenda is in Port Vila for the 22nd MSG Leaders' Summit, the first full in-person MSG Leaders' Summit since 2018.

"I'm really confident," he said, adding "the whole world is watching and this is a test for the leaders to see whether they will save West Papua".

MSG chair and Vanuatu Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau has confirmed the ULMWP's application to become a full member will be a top priority for the leaders.

Representatives of the Vanuatu West Papua Independence Committee, who are organising his trip, made sure the media was present only during a welcome ceremony at the Shefa Provincial Government Headquarters.

Shefa Province has adopted the people of United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) as "brothers and sisters of Vanuatu".

The Movement's flag is flown alongside the Shefa Provincial Flag at its Headquarters in Port Vila.

It is not clear if Wenda will meet with government leaders.

He will be in Port Vila for two weeks.

ULMWP spokesperson, Benny Wenda, said this could be seen as a delay tactic but ULMWP acknowledges the technical issues highlighted by the leaders and senior officials of the MSG.

The MSG special leaders’ summit on July 14, in the Solomon Islands, had agreed to defer the consideration of the application for full membership by ULMWP until membership criteria and guidelines are further developed.