PORT MORESBY, Jan 6, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Papua New Guinea's police minister has condemned "horrific" claims of cannibalism swirling on social media, vowing "such barbarity" would not define the Pacific nation. 

A group of machete-wielding men dangle what looks like a severed human foot in grisly photos published Monday on the front page of Papua New Guinea's largest newspaper. 

Although the men are not filmed eating the body part, one of them appears to make a licking gesture while holding it up for the camera. 

Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili said he was deeply troubled by images that appeared to depict "horrific acts of cannibalism". 

"A violent confrontation between two brothers escalated, leading to a heartbreaking outcome," he told AFP. 

"The conflict saw villagers taking sides, ultimately resulting in the gruesome killing of the elder brother by the younger sibling." 

Tsiamalili said in a separate statement dated Sunday "such barbarity does not define us as a people or a nation".

"These barbaric actions by a group of youths not only shock our collective conscience but also pose a grave threat to the societal values that bind us as a nation," he said.

"Such acts of inhumanity are intolerable and represent a significant challenge to our shared humanity." 

Police traced the images to the Goilala district in the country's jungle-clad interior. 

The killing took place "a month ago" in Saki Village, Tsiamalili said, although the video had only recently gained traction online. 

Papua New Guinea has long been tarred by outdated tropes that paint its people as savages. 

Historically, cannibalism has been documented among a small number of tribes in remote parts of Papua New Guinea. 

United States President Joe Biden last year quipped that his fighter pilot uncle may have been eaten by cannibals after he was shot down during World War II. 

"He got shot down in New Guinea, and they never found the body because there used to be a lot of cannibals, for real, in that part of New Guinea," Biden said. 

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape later dismissed the gaffe as "loose" talk on the part of the president. 

"I've met him on four occasions, until today, and on every occasion he's always had warm regards for Papua New Guinea," Marape said. 

"Never in those moments (has) he spoke of PNG as cannibals," he added.