MSG full membership

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.

The Liberation Movement already has observer status in the regional group whose full members are Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia's Kanaks.

The application was presented to the MSG Secretariat in Port Vila on behalf of the ULMWP by Vanuatu's Special Envoy for the Decolonisation of West Papua to the Pacific Islands States, Lora Lini.

Ms Lini told RNZI the application follows recent establishment of new membership criteria by a MSG sub-committee on regional and institutional issues.

Chief Seni Mao Tirsupe made the statement at the MSG Secretariat in Port Vila following a peaceful march on Friday.

RNZI reports 200 people joined the march and the group's chairman, Pastor Allan Nafuki, said he had a petition with over 5,000 signatures to support the bid.