Michael Somare, a pivotal figure in Papua New Guinea’s independence and the new nation’s first prime minister, died Friday. He was 84.
Somare was the South Pacific island nation’s longest-serving government leader after it became independent of Australia in 1975. He was prime minister for 17 years during four separate periods.
He died Friday after being diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and admitted to hospital on February 19, his daughter Betha Somare said in a statement.
“Sadly, pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers that are rarely detected early. We as a family had only two weeks to look for possible treatments for our father,” she said.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/300240354/michael-somare-papua-new-guineas-1st-prime-minister-dies-aged-84