The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) acknowledged responsibility and the Indonesian government labeled the attack a massacre.

Activists who objected to incorporation into Indonesia independence groups including the West Papua Liberation Organization, the OPM and the TPNPB.

The conflict is further fueled by economic disadvantage and poverty of Native Papuans, immigration of other ethnic groups (Transmigration program) and human rights violations by Indonesian forces.

[2] Jacob Rumbiak, spokesman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), justified the murders as "self defense against Indonesian occupation".

[14] Indonesian president Joko Widodo condemned the attack and promised a quick response, and the Papuan provincial administration described it as a "human rights violation".

[16] In an open letter addressed to Widodo and read in a YouTube video, a rebel spokesperson from the Free Papua Movement stated their demand that another referendum be held for native Papuans, and added that they would not surrender to the Indonesian government.

[20] According to volunteers grouped under the Nduga Solidarity Civil Society Coalition, tens of thousands of civilians were displaced by the fighting - with figures ranging from 39,000 to 52,000 - and reportedly, 182 had died in the refugee camps due to poor healthcare and access to basic supplies.