PORT MORESBY, Sept 12, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape survived a no confidence vote on Thursday, overcoming concerns about escalating tribal violence, pervasive poverty and a nationwide economic malaise.

Raucous arguments rang out across the floor of the country's parliament before the long-threatened vote, which has put Marape under pressure since the start of the year.

Marape beat his former finance minister Rainbo Paita by 75 votes to 32, securing his position at least until parliament resumes for budget talks in November.

He accused disgruntled lawmakers of carrying out a time-consuming political stunt, urging the chamber to "not waste any more time".

"We have squandered months to politicking, precious time we could have spent improving the lives of our people," he said after the vote.

"The toxicity that is involved in this divisive politics must somehow be put to rest."

Such votes are common in Pacific nations like Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, which are typically governed by unwieldy coalitions with ever-shifting alliances.

Papua New Guinea has vast reserves of gold, copper, nickel, natural gas and timber that have drawn a string of multinational companies to invest.

But about one in four people live below the poverty line, and scarcely more than 10 percent of homes have electricity.

Pockets of the country are trapped in a cycle of tit-for-tat tribal violence.

The latest escalation in July saw at least 26 killed -- including 16 children -- when three villages were torched in East Sepik province.

Papua New Guinea has been basking in the glow of a recent visit by Pope Francis, who drew throngs of crowds to capital Port Moresby before visiting a remote jungle community in the country's north.

Pope Francis urged Papua New Guinea to "stop the spiral" of tribal violence that has killed untold numbers of people and displaced tens of thousands more.