From the middle of May onwards New Caledonia, a former French colony now an overseas territory, some protests broke out which turned into armed clashes with the local police. Entire neighborhoods of the region’s main city, Noumea. The situation has calmed down and the president Emmanuel Macron he flew to the archipelago on the night between 21 and 22 May.
The reason behind the protests is a reform of the local constitution which would provide for the expansion of voting rights to approximately 25 thousand French established for at least 10 years in New Caledonia. Some indigenous groups are opposed to this reform, especially the Kanak, who spearheaded the recent referendums for independence, all of which failed even if with very uncertain percentages. The question of the independence of New Caledonia however, it also concerns the influence of China and the USA in the region and its large nickel reserves.
The riots in New Caledonia and Macron’s visit
On Monday 13 May some protests broke out, which soon degenerated into violent riots, in New Caledonia, an overseas territory, therefore a former colony, of France. In fact, Paris treats what remains of its colonial possessions as true parts of its national territory, albeit with many degrees of independence. New Caledonia is an archipelago located 1,500 kilometers east of the Australian coast and 1,600 kilometers north of New Zeland.
The islands have a very limited extension, of approximately 18 thousand square kilometers. Sicily, for comparison, extends for more than 25 thousand square kilometers. Its population is also very small, less than 270 thousand people. It is governed by a local executive elected by the indigenous inhabitants of the island and by those who have moved there before 1988, by virtue of an agreement signed with France in 1998. However, Paris still has firm control over local politics, which it exercises through a presidentially appointed high commissioner, with powers similar to those of a prefect.
The protests on Monday 13 May erupted following an attempt at constitutional reform that wanted to extend the right to vote to some non-indigenous people living on the island. The main movement that supported the clashes is called Field Action Coordination Cell (CCAT) and was defined as a “criminal and mafia” by the Paris government. The clashes occurred mainly in the most important city, Nouméa.
The police forces, reinforced with agents from the France, they lost control of some neighborhoods of the city. A curfew was imposed and the military presence was also reinforced to keep airports and other key infrastructure under control so as not to lose control of the island. On Saturday 19th the situation seems to have calmed down, so much so that on the night between 21st and 22nd May, President Emmanuel Macron landed in the archipelago for an official visit.
What caused the riots in New Caledonia
The reason for the protests, which later turned into riots, in New Caledonia is the local constitutional reform that was approved by both houses of the French Parliament. Before going into effect, the law will have to pass another vote, in a joint session. The new constitution addresses a problem created by the 1998 agreement on non-indigenous people’s right to vote. In fact, today 25 thousand French people live permanently in the archipelago emigrated from the homeland and to New Caledonia for over 10 years.
However, these people are effectively deprived of part of their civil rights, given that they cannot vote for the local government, even though they are technically in the territory of their country of birth. The constitutional change would allow anyone who has permanently resided in New Caledonia for at least 10 years to also vote for local government. This is an increase in the electoral base of around 10%, however opposed by the indigenous populations.
In fact, in recent years a strong movement for the independence of New Caledoina has been born, which has led to three referendums for independence in just 4 years. In the first two, the desire to remain under the control of Paris prevailed, even if with very low percentages, just over 50%, which in an archipelago with only 270 thousand inhabitants are equivalent to a few thousand votes. The third took place in 2021 but the main indigenous population, i Kanak, boycotted it in controversy with the choice to have it carried out in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. For this reason the result was over 90% in favor of those who wanted to remain with France.
The economic interests around the archipelago and international issues
Increasingly important economic interests are also developing around the independence of New Caledonia. The archipelago is in fact the fourth largest producer of nickel, a key metal for the technology industry of which Indonesia controls more than half of the global market. Positioning oneself in this market is complex and it is in France’s interest to maintain its position New Caledonia as aligned as possible with Paris policy, so as not to lose its advantages within the technology raw materials sector.
Even from a geopolitical point of view, Oceania is becoming a territory of conflict, in particular between the USA and China. Beijing has established very collaborative relations with the archipelagos of Narau and the Solomon Islands, to expand its influence. The USA has some territories in the area and has recently established a military alliance with Australia, after a disagreement between Canberra and Australia. France, on some nuclear submarines.
The most unexpected actor in these riots though Azerbaijan, whose flags were seen on many barricades in Nouméa. The country which is located in the Caucasus and overlooks the Caspian Sea, almost 14 thousand kilometers from New Caledonia, has very tense relations with France. The situation is given by Paris’ proximity to Armenia, with which Baku has just had an armed conflict over the Nagrono-Karabak region.
The one between Armenia and France is a historic alliance that dates back to the genocide of the Armenian populations in Turkey in 1915. Paris pledged to host refugees, even sending ships to rescue people targeted by the Turkish army. It is estimated that around half a million Armenians still live in France today. However, Azerbaijan has denied any involvement in the New Caledonia uprisings.
