Prabowo Takes Over Aceh-North Sumatra Island Dispute, Decision to Be Made Next Week

Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, said that President Prabowo Subianto will take over the resolution of the territorial boundary dispute involving four islands between Aceh Province and North Sumatra. This was conveyed by Dasco after conducting direct communication with Prabowo some time ago.

"The results of the communication between the Indonesian House of Representatives and the President are that the President is taking over the issue of the island boundaries which are the dynamics between Aceh Province and North Sumatra Province," said Dasco in his written statement, Sunday, June 15, 2025.

The territorial boundary dispute between the two provinces emerged after the determination of the regional codification by the central government which sparked rejection from a number of parties in Aceh. The transfer of the status of the four islands is stated in the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs (Kepmendagri) which was issued on April 25, 2025.

The four disputed islands are Mangkir Gadang Island, Mangkir Ketek Island, Lipan Island, and Panjang Island which are currently registered under the administration of Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, but are also claimed as part of Aceh Singkil Regency.

Tito said, Kepmendagri No. 300.2.2-2138/2025 concerning the Granting and Updating of Codes, Administrative Area Data and Islands has gone through a geographical location study and decision considerations involving various agencies. According to him, the border dispute between the four islands between Aceh Province and North Sumatra Province is indeed complicated and has been going on for a long time. Tito said that the Ministry of Home Affairs must determine the boundaries of the four islands because it is related to the naming of the islands which must be registered with the United Nations.

Minister Tito said that he would not object if the Aceh Provincial Government sued the Ministry of Home Affairs' Decision regarding the transfer of the four islands. "We are open to evaluation or lawsuits, including to the State Administrative Court (PTUN). Go ahead," Tito said on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, as reported by Antara.

In his statement, Dasco said that Prabowo would soon provide an official decision regarding the polemic. "Next week the President will make a decision about it," he said.

Previously, Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives will immediately schedule a summons for the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian, the Governor of North Sumatra (Sumut) Bobby Nasution, and the Governor of Aceh Muzakir Manaf regarding the dispute over four islands in the two regions.

Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives will also simultaneously summon the Regent of Aceh Singkil Safriadi Oyon and the Regent of Central Tapanuli Masinto Pasaribu to resolve the polemic.

"We will schedule it soon, yes. Now (the Indonesian House of Representatives) is still in recess," said Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives Bahtra Banong as quoted by Antara, Saturday, June 14, 2025.

He said the summons would be carried out after the Indonesian House of Representatives' recess period is over. Meanwhile, the Indonesian House of Representatives is currently entering a recess period from May 27, 2025 to June 23, 2025.

"Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives will facilitate a meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Aceh Provincial Government, the North Sumatra Provincial Government, the Aceh Singkil Regency Government, and the Central Tapanuli Regency Government to sit together to find the right solution based on the principles of family and unity," he said.

Bahtra also asked all parties, starting from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the provincial government, the district/city government, and the people of the two regions to resolve the dispute over the four islands based on the principles of family.

He also asked that the problem also be resolved through deliberation, consensus, holistic, fair, and participatory, combining law, geospatial technology, history, and social dialogue. "Especially in accordance with the applicable legal regulatory mechanisms and without provoking division, let alone being led into the realm of political issues," he said.

Because, according to him, border conflicts, especially between provinces, involving small islands as happened between Aceh and North Sumatra, are not just technical regulatory issues, but also involve identity, history, economy, social and history.

Dian Rahma and Ervana Trikarnaputri contributed to the writing of this article.

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