Vanuatu’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, Marc Ati, has appointed former Prime Minister Joe Natuman as the Special Envoy of Vanuatu for Maritime Boundary and Decolonisation Issues.
The appointment comes as Vanuatu continues to pursue unresolved maritime boundary and decolonisation issues, including its longstanding dispute with France over the uninhabited islands of Umaenupne (Matthew) and Umaeneag (Hunter).
For decades, efforts to finalise a maritime boundary between Vanuatu and New Caledonia have been blocked by the sovereignty dispute over the two volcanic islands, located east of New Caledonia and southeast of Vanuatu.
Conflicting claims over Matthew and Hunter date back to before the former French-British condominium of the New Hebrides gained independence as Vanuatu in 1980.
The government has previously ended negotiations with France over the maritime boundary after years of unsuccessful talks.
France continues to claim sovereignty over the islands, a position opposed by successive governments in Port Vila and supported by the Kanak independence movement in New Caledonia.
In a separate appointment, Minister Ati named David Eggie Merrick as the High Commissioner-designate of Vanuatu to New Delhi, India.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade said Merrick will assume his duties in early August 2026.
