The party's creation was announced on 6 April 2005 by James Tanis, who invited rebel leader Francis Ona to lead the group.
Tanis stated he wanted the party to represent the "independence aspirations of the Bougainville people".
[1] He finished third in the presidential election, behind Joseph Kabui and John Momis.
[2][3] Tanis won the 2008 presidential by-election following Kabui's death, serving under the BIM banner.
[4] Tanis subsequently worked for the government as a senior public servant, and the party did not contest the 2015 election.