France agrees to grant expanded self-governance to New Caledonia
(MENAFN) France has agreed to grant expanded self-governance to New Caledonia, a Pacific territory with a long-running independence movement, though it has stopped short of offering full sovereignty.
The announcement comes in the wake of violent protests last year, triggered by proposed changes to the territory's electoral rules. The unrest left 14 people dead and inflicted an estimated €2 billion (around $2.3 billion) in damages.
Under a new agreement signed Saturday at the Elysee Palace in Paris, New Caledonia will be recognized as the "State of New Caledonia" and its status will be officially incorporated into the French Constitution. The deal introduces a dual nationality framework, allowing residents to hold a specific New Caledonian nationality alongside French citizenship. It also leaves open the door to potential international recognition of the new political entity.
The accord outlines a recovery plan aimed at boosting the territory's struggling economy, with particular focus on reviving the nickel industry, which is central to New Caledonia’s economic life. The French Parliament is expected to debate and vote on the agreement in late 2025, with a referendum in the territory planned for 2026.
“A State of New Caledonia within the Republic: it’s a bet on trust,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, expressing confidence in the deal’s potential to foster national unity and restore order.
“The accord will help us get out of the spiral of violence,” Kanak lawmaker Emmanuel Tjibaou said at the signing event.
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