The governments of Australia and New Zealand said on Tuesday they would send planes to New Caledonia to support the departure of their citizens after days of violent unrest in the French overseas territory.
“We have today received approval for two flights assisted by the Australian government to allow Australian and other tourists to leave New Caledonia,” the Australian Foreign Minister said. Penny Wong said on social media platform X.
“Passengers will be given priority based on need. We continue to work on further flights,” Wong added.
New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry said a government plane would arrive in New Caledonia on Tuesday to transport the 50 most needy passengers from Nouméa to Auckland.
“New Zealanders in New Caledonia have had a challenging few days – and bringing them home has been an urgent priority for the Government,” the Foreign Secretary said. Winston Peters said in a statement.
“In collaboration with France and Australia, we will be working on follow-up flights in the coming days,” said Peters.
After days of serious unrest in New Caledonia, the situation appears to be easing.
So far, six people have been killed and more than 200 people have been arrested in the riots on the island 1,500 kilometers east of Australia.
The backdrop to the protests by those in favor of the archipelago’s independence are planned electoral reforms from Paris. The changes would give French residents the right to vote in provincial elections if they have lived there for ten years.
But the Kanak population group in particular – the indigenous population of New Caledonia – has long hoped for their own state. The Kanak National Council accused Paris of pushing through the controversial reform without taking into account the resistance of the vast majority of the indigenous population.
The former French colony had already achieved extensive autonomy through the Nouméa Agreement of 1998. Paris is currently trying to conclude a new agreement with the political forces in the geopolitically and militarily important area.
