Riots broke out in Noumea, New Caledonia, following a proposed electoral amendment sparking clashes, fires, and arrests. The move to allow long-term French residents voting rights stirs tensions among local independence activists.
Violent riots erupted in Noumea, the capital of the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, on May 14, 2024. The unrest was sparked by a proposed constitutional amendment in the French National Assembly concerning changes to the local electoral system. The amendment aims to permit French citizens who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections, a move that local independence activists fear could undermine their influence.
As tensions escalated, rioters set cars, supermarkets, and a local sports facility on fire, while also clashing with the police and setting up barricades. In response, authorities deployed additional police forces, shut down the international airport, and instituted a curfew in Noumea to manage the situation. According to reports, 54 police officers were injured, and 82 people were arrested over two days of protests.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized restoring order and promoting dialogue among all parties. President Emmanuel Macron planned to hold discussions in Paris with representatives from New Caledonia to seek a peaceful resolution.
The protests highlight ongoing political tensions in New Caledonia, a strategic French territory in the Indo-Pacific and a significant nickel producer. The region, comprising an ethnically diverse population of around 270,000 people, previously experienced a period of conflict that concluded with the 1998 Noumea Accord. This agreement paved the way for greater autonomy and restricted voting rights primarily to indigenous Kanaks and long-term residents. Thus far, all referendums concerning the territory’s independence have resulted in decisions to remain part of France.
