If 2020 is your year to travel, you wish to explore the unexplored, and have a knack for planning offbeat vacations, then we know exactly where you should be headed. How about the newest country of the world, Bougainville

This small archipelago of islands, which lies off the coast of Papua New Guinea(PNG), voted for an independent nation at the referendum earlier this month.

The isles lie 700 kilometres off the coast in the Solomon Sea and will be the world&rsquos newest and smallest country. 98 per cent of the population voted in favour of independence after a decade-long civil war for peace. The conflict between Papua New Guinea and Bougainville involved the control of the resource-rich island. 

However, a long road lies ahead for this new nation. The referendum is not yet binding and has to be passed by the government of PNG.

Voting began on November 23 and officially ended on December 7, 2019. The results of which were announced on December 11, making Bougainville the newest country of the world.