Two neighbouring Indonesian provinces, Aceh and North Sumatra, were thrust into the headlines after the Home Affairs Ministry issued Decree No. 300.2.2-2138/2025 on 25 April 2025. The regulation—meant simply to update administrative codes and island names—reassigned four small islands off Aceh Singkil to Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra: Mangkir Gadang, Mangkir Ketek, Lipan and Panjang.

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said the decision followed lengthy technical deliberations with the Geospatial Information Agency, the Navy’s Hydro-Oceanographic Centre and the Army’s Topography Directorate. While the two provinces had agreed on their land border, they had never settled the maritime line; Jakarta therefore set the sea boundary according to geodetic calculations so that Indonesia could register the islands with the United Nations.

The minister emphasised that the Government has no political agenda and is ready to accept input or even a lawsuit in the State Administrative Court.

Aceh’s Protests

The decree sparked a week of protests across Aceh. Political leaders, fishermen, academics and students rejected the transfer:

• Suadi Sulaiman, Deputy Chair of the Aceh Party, warned that the move violated the 2005 Helsinki peace pact and could destabilise Aceh–Jakarta relations.

• The Aceh Singkil Fishermen’s Alliance (GANAS) blockaded the disputed waters on 13 June 2025, vowing to “defend them to the last drop of blood.”

• The Aceh Students’ Union rallied in front of the Home Affairs Ministry in Jakarta the same day, demanding the dismissal of the minister and senior officials.

On 16 June, hundreds of students under the banner Gerakan Aceh Melawan demonstrated in Banda Aceh, brandishing banners reading “Aceh Resists” and “Referendum.” They urged President Prabowo Subianto to revoke the decree and sack the minister.

Governor Muzakir “Mualem” Manaf convened lawmakers, religious leaders and academics. The meeting agreed on three avenues—familial dialogue, administrative review and political lobbying—while explicitly ruling out a court challenge. A formal letter of objection was sent to the minister.

Allegations of Hidden Motives

Public suspicion deepened when reports surfaced of possible oil-and-gas reserves in the waters around the four islands. North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution openly invited Aceh to “collaborate” on any resources there, fuelling speculation that the boundary change served economic interests. Aceh’s oil-and-gas regulator BPMA said no proven reserves exist yet; seismic surveys are required. The Home Affairs Ministry and the Presidential Communications Office both denied that natural-resource considerations played any role.

Marine sociologists also highlighted the islands’ ecological and tourism value: the area lies on a regional shipping route and within a well-preserved marine-biodiversity corridor, making it strategically important beyond any hydrocarbons.

Steps toward Resolution

Initial talks between the two governors in Banda Aceh on 4 June failed to calm public anger. Parliament then asked President Prabowo to intervene. Following a closed cabinet meeting, the Government reversed the decree on 17 June 2025, restoring the four islands to Aceh. The decision was announced by Cabinet Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, flanked by the Home Affairs Minister and both governors.

Echoes in Social and Mass Media

Big-data tool Socindex recorded 43,335 posts on X (Twitter) about the dispute between 1 and 18 June 2025, peaking on 17 June after the reversal; hashtags “Aceh” and #BobbyPencuriPulauAceh (“Bobby the Island Thief”) trended nationwide.

Media-monitor Newstensity logged 11,163 news items in the same period, with the highest volume on 17 June. Local portal aceh.tribunnews.com led coverage (254 stories) ahead of Kompas.com, iNews TV, Metro TV and Detik.com. President Prabowo topped entity mentions, followed by the Home Affairs Minister and both governors.

Epilogue

The four-island saga highlights the risks of handling sensitive boundary matters without transparent public communication. Administrative rulings can swiftly morph into security flash-points when communities suspect hidden political or economic motives. Jakarta’s rapid reversal may have muted unrest this time, but more than 40 other Indonesian islands still await final legal status—underscoring the urgent need for clear, inclusive boundary-setting procedures.

Writer: Catur Noviantoro (jangkara.id), Ilustrator: Aan K Riyadi