Pacific leaders have work cut out in troubled French territory

New Caledonians on both sides of the conflict are growing anxious that time is running out to resolve the country's decades-long political crisis.

This comes as a high-level Pacific Islands Forum delegation prepares to head to the troubled French territory this weekend.

The dream of independence is still alive among Indigenous Kanaks. Photo/supplied

Deadly riots broke out in the capital Noumēa in May after French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to change electoral rules in New Caledonia.

The unrest left 13 people dead, hundreds arrested, businesses torched, and thousands of people jobless. A curfew remains across the city.

Islands Business journalist Nic Maclellan is in Noumēa and says some fundamental differences between supporters and opponents of independence over the way forward have yet to be resolved.

He told Pacific Mornings' William Terite that the Troika mission is expected to put some pressure on France to meet its obligations toward implementing the right to self-determination.

While New Zealand’s role on the New Caledonia mission is still being worked out, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters, says Aotearoa is "seriously concerned" and wants to ensure that the long-term outcome is not only a peaceful solution but also to sustain the economy of New Caledonia, that’s important".

Peters expects that over time, there will be other delegations sent to New Caledonia.

Located some 2400 kilometres north of Aotearoa, New Caledonia has a population of about 270,000 people, according to a 2023 World Bank report.

Maclellan says the independence movement has very firm opinions that this [PIF mission] should not just be talking about economic reconstruction.

"It shouldn't just be talking about the issue of violence and so on, but rather talking about the pathway forward," he told Terite.

"There'll be four key leaders scheduled to land on Sunday and travel through Monday and Tuesday, meeting with parliamentary representatives, local communities, church, and civil society leaders."

Maclellan says the Forum has sent missions to New Caledonia in the past, ministerial missions to meet with leaders, to observe elections, and the referendums that were held from 2018 to 2021.

Clashes between pro-independence supporters and French police have left 13 people dead. Photo/supplied

But he said it was proposed in the leaders' summit in Tonga in August that this mission be a very high-level one and include prime ministers rather than officials or diplomats.

"That's a sign that forum leaders consider that this is an issue that's of regional importance, not just an internal matter for France.

"The delegation includes Prime Ministers Sitiveni Rabuka, of Fiji, Mark Brown, of Cook Islands, and the current Forum chair, Siaosi Sovaleni, of the Kingdom of Tonga.

"It was also proposed to add a representative of the Solomon Islands, who is going to host the forum [leaders meeting] next year. The Solomons is also a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, which the five members including the FLNKS of New Caledonia, have been working on this issue for many years."

The MSG countries are strong supporters of the Kanak independence movement.

PMN News understands that Solomons' Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is unable to travel to Noumēa, but he'll be represented by Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is expected to be replaced by his Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka. Photo/Solomons govt

"Behind the scenes, there's a lot of discussion on what the forum leaders will do in Noumēa," Maclellan told Terite.

"A team of Forum officials has already arrived for dialogue at the French High Commission and the government of New Caledonia, which has been a full member of the Forum since 2016.

"It is an opportunity to talk with people with quite conflicting views about the way forward.

"The independence movement, the FLNKS, and parties within it, without it, have very firm opinions that this should not just be talking about the enormous damage and job loss during recent clashes.

"France, according to the United Nations, is the administering power of a non-self-governing territory.

"Some loyalists, anti-independence parties say the Noumēa Accord, the framework agreement, it's all over, it's finished. The dream of independence is over. That's not the case for the independent supporters."

Rabuka, who is in Sāmoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting or CHOGM, says he's looking forward to the Noumēa mission.

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is welcomed to Leauva’a Village in Sāmoa and bestowed the chiefly title, Tagaloa. Photo/Fiji govt

He told RNZ Pacific journalist Susana Suisuiki that he would be "talking about the future of negotiations and the relationship between New Caledonia and the people and France".

More than 3000 delegates from across the Commonwealth have descended on Apia for the weeklong CHOGM.

The leaders' meeting was opened by Britain's King Charles III on Thursday. It ends on Saturday and Rabuka heads to Noumēa on Sunday.

Most Indigenous Kanaks support a pathway towards some new political status, and Maclellan says you'll get that mix of views presented to Forum leaders.

"I spoke with a senior member of the Union Caledonian Party, the pro-independence party, Pierre Chanel Tutugoro yesterday.

"He thought it was important for the Forum to make strong statements about the future. He felt that the Forum statements that have been issued since the crisis began in May have been very important because they raise international attention on this issue.

"And that's true for the role of countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea, who serve on the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation at the United Nations."

A 6000-strong French police presence is on the ground in Noumēa amid curfew restrictions. Photo/supplied

Earlier this month, there have been meetings of the UN Fourth Committee that discussed in great depth the New Caledonia issue.

The discussions included the organisation of African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) states.

"These are international networks that have played an important role in monitoring French policy and frankly putting some pressure on France to meet its obligations towards implementing the right to self-determination," Maclellan said.

He said residents in New Caledonia are increasingly worried about the economic situation.

France's Overseas Minister, François Noël Buffet, visited Noumēa last week and pledged to expand some job subsidy programmes for employers to keep workers on.

"They were due to run out at the end of this month. Now they've been extended to Christmas, but no one knows what's gonna happen in Paris with the French budget," Maclellan said.

"People here have been asking for significant support from Paris for next year. That's not locked in yet. That's the sort of topic that's high on the agenda.

"But there's still some discussion about finalising the arrangements, even though the leaders are scheduled to fly in this Sunday."

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, during a visit to Noumēa, just days after the riots broke out. At left is New Caledonia President Louis Mapou. Photo/supplied