Papua New Guinea’s first PM Michael Somare dead Updated: Updated: February 26, 2021 11:38 IST Mr. Somare was Papua New Guinea’s longest-serving leader after it became independent of Australia in 1975. Share Article AAA A file photo of Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister. | Photo Credit: AP Mr. Somare was Papua New Guinea’s longest-serving leader after it became independent of Australia in 1975. Michael Somare, a pivotal figure in Papua New Guinea’s independence and the South Pacific island nation’s first Prime Minister, has died. He was 84. Mr. Somare was Papua New Guinea’s longest-serving leader after it became independent of Australia in 1975. He was Prime Minister for 17 years during four separate periods.