James Tanis

James Tanis ( b. 1965 ), grew up in the village of Panam in Lamane on the border between South and Central Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, is the President of the Bougainville Autonomous Province. Previously, he was vice president of the party Bougainville People's Congress.

In November and December 2008 presidential elections were carried out in the Autonomous Province of Bougainville, as the predecessor of James Tanis, President Joseph Kabui, had died of a heart attack during his tenure in June 2008. 14 candidates stood for election. With 13,547 votes James Tanis won against Sam Akoitai. The turnout was low, road blockades and local disputes prevented the voters to participate in the elections, there were complaints from many Bougainvilleern that their names did not appear in the voter rolls. Tanis was sworn in on January 6, 2009. The choice of the 43 -year-old Tanis represents a generational change in the leadership of Bougainville

The focus of his government's work is the promotion of unity and the elimination of the consequences of the civil war. January 19, 2009 Tanis Ezekiel Massat appointed vice-president.