Mass riots in New Caledonia

Pogroms are underway in New Caledonia for independence from France. This was reported by the French publication CNEWS.

The islands west of Australia are a French overseas territory in the Pacific Ocean.

The reason for the current pogroms is an electoral reform that gives voting rights to French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years.

The local Kanaka people believe that in this way they will be deprived of their influence.

People are in favor of independence from France. More than 200 people are detained, and four people, including one gendarme, are killed.

Paris has announced that it will send soldiers to New Caledonia to secure ports and airports,

Local police have also been reinforced, a curfew has been declared, and TikTok has been banned.

The French Interior Ministry accused Baku of supporting the rioters.

“I regret that some of the pro-independence leaders made a deal with Azerbaijan, which is indisputable,” said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen.

As was known in April, the Azerbaijani parliament and the Congress of New Caledonia signed a memorandum of cooperation.

The parties agreed to maintain relations, including visits by parliamentary delegations.

New Caledonia has held three referendums on independence since 2018, all three ending with the victory of supporters of preservation as part of France.