New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the South Pacific, has been embroiled in violence for days following an electoral law reform. The unrest resulted in the deaths of five people, destruction and damage to hundreds of buildings, and over 200 arrests. Local media reported that looted supermarkets and gas stations were among the damages caused by around 5,000 rioters involved.
The situation has led to a state of emergency being declared by the French government after a local politician described it as a civil war in a letter to President Emmanuel Macron. Measures such as temporarily blocking the video app TikTok were implemented to hinder communication among rioters. The French National Assembly approved a constitutional reform that would grant voting rights to more residents of New Caledonia, leading to protests from those who fear a loss of political influence.
The unrest stems from concerns by proponents of New Caledonia’s independence that the reform may diminish the influence of the original population, particularly the Kanak people. The CCAT, a radical splinter group opposing the reform, has been blamed for the violence. French politicians, including Interior Minister Darmanin, have accused Azerbaijan of interfering in the situation through the CCAT and the “Baku Initiative Group.”
President Macron has called for a resumption of political dialogue and plans to meet with Caledonian delegations in an effort to calm the situation. However, concerns about external actors like Azerbaijan have added complexity to the conflict due to potential involvement and disinformation interference. While previously considered pacified, long-standing tensions have been rekindled in New Caledonia following this recent violence.