France announced its contract with New Caledonia on Saturday. This gives autonomy to overseas South Pacific territory. However, the agreement will cease except for the complete independence sought by indigenous residents of the archipelago.
The 13-page contract, which French President Emmanuel Macron praised as “historical,” calls for the creation of the “state of Caledonia” engraved in the French constitution. It also enables the creation of Caledonian nationality along with French nationality.
The agreement still requires final approval in New Caledonia and could face a vote by New Caledonians in February.
For decades, the Pacific archipelago in eastern Australia faced political tensions between those seeking independence and those loyal to France.
And in May 2024, A massive amount of riots It occurred through proposed election reforms. The French government discussed giving the vote to thousands of non-Indigenous long-term residents the right to vote. Many Kanaks protested the proposal, claiming that changes to election rules would further alienate Indigenous voters.
The difficult path will go ahead for the Kanak tribe and other Caledonians, according to Kanak MP Emmanuel Tibau, but the new agreement will win the island “from the spiral of violence.”
“The text does not mention the word independence, but it can pave the way for structured, progressive, legally regulated and politically legal,” Tjibaou said.
Those who agreed to keep New Caledonia in the crease of France also welcomed their consent. Parliamentary lawmaker Nicholas Metzdorf called it a compromise born out of a “demanding dialogue” and described Caledonian nationality as “real concessions.”
An excerpt published by the New Caledonian public broadcaster shows that a special parliament will be held to confirm the next step.
This agreement will ultimately allow the New Caledonians to change the names, flags and hymns of their territory.
Participants highlighted the importance of rehabilitating and diversifying New Caledonia’s beneficial economy, which relies heavily on nickel mining and reduces its dependence on mainland France.
France colonized New Caledonia in the 1850s and became an overseas territory after World War II. French citizenship was granted to all Kanaks in 1957, but many continue to demand full independence.
