New Caledonia to gain more autonomy under French deal

France has unveiled a new agreement offering greater autonomy to New Caledonia, a move Paris described as “historic” but which falls short of the full independence long demanded by many Indigenous Kanaks.

The deal, announced on 12 July after ten days of tense negotiations at the Élysée Palace, comes more than a year after deadly riots shook the South Pacific territory over proposed changes to voting rules. Those changes, strongly opposed by pro-independence groups, were seen as a threat to Kanak political representation.

Under the accord, New Caledonia would become a “state of Caledonia” within the French Republic, and the French constitution would recognise a new “Caledonian nationality” alongside French citizenship. While celebrated by President Emmanuel Macron as a “historic” compromise, the deal still requires approval in New Caledonia and may be put to a vote there as early as February.

Participants in the talks — which included officials from the French government, pro-independence Kanaks, and anti-independence representatives — agreed the arrangement could eventually expand local control over international relations, policing, and justice. It may also allow New Caledonia to adopt its own flag, anthem, and name.

However, critics say the agreement stops short of recognising the right to self-determination — a long-standing demand of the Kanak independence movement, which has roots stretching back to French colonisation in the 1850s.

France granted citizenship to Kanaks in 1957 and the territory has held three referendums on independence since 2018, all of which ended in favour of remaining under French control — although the most recent vote in 2021 was boycotted by pro-independence groups after a COVID-19-related delay.

A special congress will be held to determine next steps. What lies ahead remains uncertain — not only in terms of whether New Caledonians will back the proposal, but also whether it will meaningfully address the deep-rooted tensions that continue to define politics in the archipelago.

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