The Bougainville Conflict was a civil war in the Bougainville region of Papua New Guinea that lasted from 1988 to 1998. It began as a dispute over environmental damage caused by the Panguna copper mine, which led to local grievances about land rights and economic benefits. The conflict involved the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) fighting against the government and mining company interests. The war resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of people, with estimates of casualties ranging from 10,000 to 20,000. A peace agreement was signed in 1998, leading to greater autonomy for Bougainville and a referendum on independence, which took place in 2019.