The Audio Long Read

In search of the South Pacific fugitive who crowned himself king

Apr 25, 2025
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ANECDOTE

Musinku Crowned King in Jungle

  • Noah Musinku made a fortune with a Ponzi scheme, then declared himself king in a jungle compound in Bougainville.
  • He wears crowns of brass and cowrie shells that explicitly spell out "king."
INSIGHT

Musinku as Political Thorn

  • The ABG government sees Musinku as a thorn Papua New Guinea uses to delay Bougainville's independence.
  • His kingdom and scheme exploit political tensions to persist despite being widely discredited.
ANECDOTE

Divine Inspiration for Scheme

  • Musinku claims God appeared to him, telling him he was the solution to Bougainville's problems.
  • This divine message inspired his grand financial and political schemes.
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