Whispers
Dispatches from Tonga The ubiquity of mobile phones is a growing issue at the Pacific Islands Forum. At last month’s leaders’ meeting in Nuku’alofa, every ceremony and event was captured on phones, with selfies
New Caledonia
Deaths at Saint Louis overshadow anniversary of French colonisation
Tuesday 24 September marks the 171st anniversary of the French annexation of New Caledonia. By order of Napoleon III, Rear-Admiral Février-Despointes officially took possession of the main island Grande Terre in 1853,
Two Kanaks shot dead by French police in New Caledonia decried as ‘assassinations’
French police shot and killed two men in New Caledonia on Thursday, stoking tensions with pro-independence groups days ahead of a public holiday marking France’s annexation of the Pacific archipelago. The
Unrest-hit New Caledonia airlines in search of new markets
New Caledonia‘s domestic carrier Air Calédonie is set to launch a bi-weekly international connection to neighbouring Vanuatu. The new link is set to start operating from 3 October with two return flights, one
New Caledonia Loyalists welcome choice of French PM
Anti-independence politicians in New Caledonia have welcomed the appointment of Michel Barnier as the new French Prime Minister in Paris. A member of the conservative political party Les Républicains (LR), Barnier has
MSG Leaders push for strong stance on New Caledonia at Tonga Summit
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders, meeting on the sidelines of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, have called for a robust and unified approach to key regional issues, particularly the ongoing situation
French Polynesia hits Paris approach to New Caledonia
French Polynesia says France failed to heed warnings of unrest in New Caledonia and Paris needs to soften its diplomacy in the crisis-hit Pacific territory. The future of New Caledonia is a hot topic at the Pacific
Outgoing Forum Chair Mark Brown reflects on challenging times
“We’ve been mindful that our region is of great interest from a geopolitical perspective over the last few years or so,” says Prime Minister of Cook Islands Mark Brown. “But the security issues that are seen by
Forum delays mission to New Caledonia, after diplomatic wrangling
The Pacific Islands Forum has postponed a planned monitoring mission to New Caledonia. The delegation, involving three prime ministers, had intended to visit the French Pacific dependency before next week’s
UN experts alarmed by situation of Kanak indigenous peoples in the non-self-governing territory of New Caledonia
The French Parliament adopted a bill on 14 May 2024 that dismantles one of the cornerstones of the Nouméa Accord by unfreezing the electoral body in New Caledonia, a non-self-governing territory under French
New Caledonia requests Australian aid for riot rebuild
New Caledonia is looking to Australia for aid to help rebuild its capital city after deadly riots. The French territory was marred by civil unrest and riots that left 10 dead in May after controversial voting reforms
French political uncertainty unsettles New Caledonia
The glitz and glamour of the Olympics hosted by France has overshadowed an ongoing political crisis facing the French State. For weeks after snap elections for the French National Assembly, the outgoing government has
Forum Troika set for high-stakes New Caledonia mission
Incumbent Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has confirmed that a high-level Troika delegation will visit New Caledonia before the end of August. The mission, which has received
New Caledonia’s mothballed nickel plant starts mass sackings process
New Caledonia’s mothballed nickel plant in Koniambo (North of the main island) has announced it has engaged in the mass sackings of some 1200 staff, despite efforts to identify a potential buyer. Koniambo (KNS
French President Macron yet to sign off on Pacific leaders request to visit New Caledonia
The French Ambassador to the Pacific says President Emmanuel Macron is yet to sign a letter from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) requesting authorisation for a high-level Pacific mission to New Caledonia. Véronique
Opinion: Mixing oil and water
As protests erupt across New Caledonia, a leading Loyalist politician claims indigenous Kanak and the West are like ‘oil and water’ Sonia Backès, the leading conservative anti-independence politician of her
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders endorse high-level mission to New Caledonia
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders have endorsed a high-level mission to New Caledonia. This is in response to the request from New Caledonia to support a long-lasting resolution to the ongoing political
MSG calls on France to allow monitoring missions into New Caledonia
As New Caledonia reels after two months of clashes between protesters and police, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has called on France to allow independent monitoring missions to visit New Caledonia and assess
French police kill alleged gunman amid continued unrest in New Caledonia
French police shot and killed an alleged gunman in New Caledonia on Wednesday, local prosecutors said, bringing the toll of almost two months of unrest in the French Pacific territory to 10. The suspect was killed
Tjibaou and Metzdorf win New Caledonia’s seats in French National Assembly
In New Caledonia, Emmanuel Tjibaou has won a seat in the French National Assembly – the first time in 38 years that a pro-independence Kanak leader will serve in the French legislature in Paris. Emmanuel is the son of
First round of French Pacific results show radicalisation, especially in New Caledonia
French Pacific results for the first round of French national snap elections have shown on Sunday a firm radicalisation, especially in the case of New Caledonia. In both of New Caledonia’s constituencies, the
‘Stop the violence and killing against Kanaky people’: Vanuatu MPs from Tafea Province
Eight Members of Vanuatu Parliament from Tafea Province have made a bold and powerful call to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to stop the violence and killing being committed against the Kanaky
