The Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) was a militant group formed in the late 1980s in the autonomous region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. It emerged in response to local grievances over environmental damage and economic disparities caused by the Panguna copper mine, which was operated by the Rio Tinto company. The BRA aimed to achieve independence for Bougainville and fought against the Papua New Guinea government. The conflict led to a brutal civil war, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of people. The BRA eventually played a key role in peace negotiations, leading to the Bougainville Peace Agreement in 2001, which granted greater autonomy to Bougainville and set the stage for a future referendum on independence.