Violent protests erupted in New Caledonia on Wednesday, May 15, against proposed electoral reforms that critics argue could marginalise the Indigenous Kanak population and benefit pro-French politicians. The protests turned deadly, resulting in the death of one police officer and three others. In response, France declared a state of emergency in the territory, giving local authorities more power to restore order.
The unrest stems from a proposal to expand voting rights in New Caledonia, a French overseas territory located hundreds of miles off Australia’s eastern coast. Under the current system, voting is restricted to Kanaks and individuals born before 1998. However, the new measure would allow anyone who has lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in local elections, diluting the Kanak people’s electoral power.
The violence is the worst the region has seen in decades and highlights deep-seated issues related to Paris’ role in the archipelago. New Caledonia has long been a site of tension between the Indigenous Kanak population, who seek independence, and descendants of European colonisers, who prefer to remain part of France.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office has condemned the violence and called for calm. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized the severity of the violence and the necessity of the state of emergency to restore order.
The French government has deployed hundreds of police to New Caledonia and expanded powers for local authorities, including the ability to restrict public access to certain areas, conduct searches, and prevent certain individuals from entering if they are deemed a threat to public safety.
As of Thursday, authorities had arrested over 200 people and injured 64 gendarmes and police. The protests have also caused a “dire situation” for the population’s medicine and food supplies, according to the high commissioner for New Caledonia, Louis Le Franc.
The unrest began as French lawmakers prepared to vote on expanding voting rights in the territory. The National Assembly adopted the revision overnight, but it still requires final approval from both chambers of parliament.
The new measure has sparked concerns among the Kanak population, who fear that it will further marginalize them and undermine their aspirations for independence. The 1998 Noumea Accord, which governs the relationship between France and New Caledonia, included provisions for three referendums on independence, all of which rejected independence. Pro-independence parties boycotted the last vote in December 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The current violence highlights the complex and unresolved issues surrounding New Caledonia’s future and the relationship between the Kanak people and France.
