France has declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia following violent protests against electoral reforms that have resulted in four fatalities, including one police officer. The protests, which have been sparked by concerns that the reforms could marginalize the Indigenous Kanak population, have seen thousands of rioters clashing with gendarmes, resulting in hundreds of arrests and injuries. The French government has deployed hundreds of police to the territory and expanded powers for local authorities to restore order. The violence highlights deep-seated tensions between the Kanak people, who seek independence, and descendants of European colonizers, who prefer to remain part of France.