French President Emmanuel Macron has opened a summit with political, economic and civil society leaders from New Caledonia to discuss the French territory’s future, one year after deadly riots shook the archipelago.
The summit in Paris brings together elected officials and representatives from various sectors of New Caledonia at the invitation of Macron.
He said last week that talks would continue “as long as necessary” to address key institutional, economic and societal issues.
“Beyond major institutional topics, I would like our discussions to touch on economic and societal matters,” Macron stated ahead of the summit.
During a traditional “custom” ceremony of exchange of gifts between the Paris group and the delegation from New Caledonia, Macron’s chief of staff Patrice Faure (who is a former French High Commissioner in New Caledonia), in line with Kanak protocol, spoke on behalf of the French President and presented a pen, “a pen, that could be used, we hope, to sign at least a compromise, if not an agreement, in the days or weeks to come”
“Here, just as in New Caledonia, there are people who suffer to see you going through all these sufferings”, Faure told the visiting leaders, stressing the “indefectible links that unite us”.
He also recalled the social, economic consequence of the May 2024 riots that have left 14 dead and over Euros 2 billion (US$2.34 billion) in material damages.
Macron’s invitation was aiming at initiating “a dialogue that could guarantee a sustainable political, social and cultural equilibrium, adapted to New Caledonia’s reality”, “beyond antagonistic logic” and to “build a shared, balanced and lasting future”.
The political talks are initially scheduled to last until this weekend, but are open-ended and could be extended if deemed necessary.
New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the South Pacific, has been under French rule since the 19th century. Tensions have persisted for decades, with many Indigenous Kanaks seeking greater autonomy or full independence.
Violent unrest erupted in May 2024 after the French government proposed extending voting rights to long-term residents who are not Indigenous Kanaks.
The move sparked fears among pro-independence groups that their political influence would be permanently diminished.
The riots left 14 people dead and caused extensive damage estimated in the billions of euros, the worst violence since the 1980s.
The summit comes shortly after the release of pro-independence leader Christian Tein, who had been in custody in eastern France since June 2024 in connection with the unrest.
A French court released Tein in June, citing a lack of evidence that he was preparing an armed insurrection, according to a source close to the case.
The last referendum on New Caledonian independence was held in 2021 and was boycotted by pro-independence groups due to the disproportionate effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the Kanak population.
It was the third vote since 2018, all of which resulted in a majority opposing independence.
