Local sources from France: Courrier international, La Croix.
UK coverage: Euronews.
France has accused Azerbaijan of interfering in the politics of New Caledonia, a French Overseas territory that has experienced a recent outbreak of political violence. The sudden surge of violence, resulting in four deaths and hundreds of injuries, did not come as a surprise to Henry Puna, the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum. Puna stated that the situation in New Caledonia had been ‘boiling’ since the independence referendum in 2021 and that its deterioration was ‘predictable’. The referendum had resulted in a 96.5% vote against independence, but it was massively boycotted by the Kanak population. The recent violence has led to a state of emergency being declared by French President Emmanuel Macron, who emphasized the need for an ‘implacable response’ to restore order. The main independentist and non-independentist parties in New Caledonia have called for calm and urged the population to remain reasonable. The root cause of the violence lies in divergent visions of the future of New Caledonia, with the opening of the electoral body being a major point of contention. Anti-independence supporters see the issue as settled and prioritize maintaining order, while independence supporters denounce it as a colonial war and advocate for an associated state. The current escalation has raised concerns of a return to a long colonial conflict. Despite the tensions, there is still hope for dialogue and consensus, with some independence supporters expressing readiness to engage in discussions. The urgent need is to restore confidence in the impartiality of the State and ensure equal listening to all parties involved. The recent accusations of Azerbaijan’s interference in New Caledonia’s politics have been denied by Azerbaijani diplomats. Tensions in New Caledonia continue to simmer between Indigenous Kanaks seeking independence and descendants of colonizers who want to remain part of France.
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