What's happened
As New Caledonia marks the anniversary of French takeover, tensions rise amid fears of unrest. Pro-independence Kanak leaders plan to declare sovereignty, while authorities increase police presence following recent violence that has left 13 dead since May. The situation remains volatile as communities remain divided over the territory's future.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, tensions are high as New Caledonia marks the anniversary of the French takeover, with fears of renewed unrest. The article notes that authorities have increased police presence and imposed curfews in response to recent violence, which has left 13 dead since May. The Independent highlights the stark divide between pro-independence Kanak leaders and loyalist communities, with calls for a declaration of sovereignty expected from the National Council of Chiefs of the Kanak people. Al Jazeera reports on the political implications of the unrest, emphasizing the challenges faced by Prime Minister Michel Barnier in forming a stable government amid ongoing violence. The situation remains precarious as both sides prepare for potential confrontations.
How we got here
The unrest in New Caledonia stems from a controversial voting reform proposed by President Macron, which Kanak leaders argue threatens their electoral power. Following violent protests in May, the situation escalated, leading to a state of emergency and increased military presence.
More on these topics
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New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France, currently governed under the Nouméa Accord, located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, to the south of Vanuatu, about 1,210 km east of Australia and 17,000 km from Metropolitan France.
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Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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Michel Bernard Barnier is a French politician serving as the European Commission's Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom since November 2019.
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Kanak are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. According to the 2014 census, they make up 39.1% of the total population with around 105,000 people.
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Nouméa is the capital and largest city of the French special collectivity of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian, Indones