The self-proclaimed “King of the Twin Kingdoms of Papaala and Meekamui” in Bougainville, David Peii II, who passed away in Tannu City, Bougainville, on October 12th, was laid to rest in a funeral ceremony today (November 17th).
The news came via an announcement from the Kingdom, which stated the following:
“This notice serves to formally inform all Uvistract diehard investors and clients of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, West Papua, Solomon Islands, Australia, Indonesia, USA, Canada and the rest of the world that late HM EMPEROR, KING DAVID U/PEII II has passed on at 10:00 pm on Monday 12th of October, 2026. This has happened after an illness he has fought over for more than three weeks”.
While no exact cause of death has been announced, it is known that he suffered from poor health for a number of years. As for what will come next for his Kingdom, as well as its investors, no one quite knows.
Who Was King David Peii II of the Twin Kingdoms of Papaala and Meekamui?
Born Noah Musingku, David Peii II first came to prominence in the late 1990s through U-Vistract, a financial scheme that promised extraordinary returns to investors. The operation attracted substantial investment before collapsing, with fairly accurate allegations that it was a Ponzi scheme. Facing legal problems in Papua New Guinea, Musingku eventually fled to Bougainville, where he found refuge among supporters of Francis Ona, one of the leaders of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and the self-proclaimed King of Meekamui.
Following Ona’s death in 2005, Musingku established himself as King David Peii II, bringing together the self-proclaimed kingdoms of Papaala and Meekamui. From his base in Tonu, he developed a royal administration, a financial network and an armed security force. The Kingdom was never internationally recognised, and its financial activities attracted considerable controversy, including allegations of fraud and exploitation of investors. Yet Musingku remained an influential and highly unusual figure in Bougainville, combining claims of sovereignty, religious beliefs and promises of economic restoration.
And while he was an extremely controversial figure, as well as one we certainly do not condone, he was definitely a huge character, something I personally learnt on the four occasions that we met. In fact, we ere due to meet him again last August, only to get flooded in and need a helicopter rescue – long story !!!!!
I even had a bank account with him (needed to procure a meeting) and was shown what distain PNG had for him when I got questioned at immigration because of a TikTok video I did with him. Do not underestimate what a divisive figure he was and indeed still is even in death.
Will He Be Succeeded?
As for what will happen with the Kingdom, as well as whether he will be succeeded as sovereign of the nation, the childless sovereign leaves no clear successor. The ambiguity has been compounded by the following statement from the “Kingdom”:
“His death has left a vaccum so big for anyone of his caliber to fill in his shoes. He was indeed a great gift and blessing to the whole world that many people could not embrace. He is indeed a man of great love for his fellow men and the world, full of compassion, humility, visionary leader, hard working and sacrificial leader and a great King that has shaken the foundations of nations and touched so many lives”.
Another issue that may raise its ugly head is the Kingdom’s relationship with the regional government of Bougainville, as well as with the central government in Port Moresby. Essentially, the King and the Kingdom are considered by the government to be fraudulent entities, entities allowed to exist because there has been genuine concern over the Kingdom allegedly being supported by heavily armed mercenaries.
With the death of King David Peii II, there may now be a prospect for some kind of amnesty and reintegration into what might become the world’s newest nation.
As to whether we will still run tours to the Twin Kingdoms? Let’s see.
Click to see our Bougainville Tours.
