President Emmanuel Macron has promised that French police forces will remain in New Caledonia “as long as necessary” as he arrives in the riot-hit French Pacific region.
Macron said the 3,000-strong force deployed from France would remain there – if necessary, even through the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Six people, including two police officers, have been killed and hundreds injured in the riots sparked by a controversial electoral reform proposed last week.
Indigenous Kanaks say their political influence will be diluted if more French residents are allowed to vote in local elections.
There have long been tensions between the central government in Paris and the pro-independence Kanaks of New Caledonia, who make up about 40% of the small archipelago.
The archipelago, located between Australia and Fiji, has been French territory since the 19th century. The riots marked the worst unrest since the 1980s.
After flying to New Caledonia’s capital Nouméa on Thursday, President Macron said he wanted the return of peace, tranquility and security “as quickly as possible”.
“That is the absolute priority,” the French leader said.
He paid respects to the victims of the riots while meeting with local political and business leaders.
The summit included separatist leaders who said beforehand that they hoped talks with France would be “revived.”
Macron admitted that the most delicate conversation to be had was about politics – and the future of New Caledonia, reports BBC Australia correspondent Katy Watson, adding that he has a huge job ahead of him stands.
Police have detained 269 people since the violence began on May 13, and New Caledonia is currently under a state of emergency.
But Macron hinted that the state of emergency could be lifted in the coming days, saying: “I personally believe that the state of emergency should not be extended.”
New Caledonia has approximately 300,000 inhabitants, including 112,000 indigenous Kanaks.
Under the 1998 Nouméa Agreement, France agreed to give the territory greater political autonomy and limit voting in provincial and parliamentary elections to those living there at the time.
Since then, more than 40,000 French people have moved to New Caledonia.
Last week, the National Assembly in Paris proposed granting voting rights to French residents who have lived in the area for ten years.
Because this requires a constitutional amendment, the measure faces further obstacles.
The Nouméa Agreement made three referenda on the future of the country possible. Independence was rejected in all cases.
The first two showed a small majority for the remaining part of France. The third, in December 2021, was boycotted by pro-independence parties because it took place during the Covid pandemic.
