French Pacific Territories Take Independence Fight to UN

French Polynesia and New Caledonia are to make their case for independence before the United Nations. Those against will also appear.

This photograph shows a Kanak flag waving next to a burning vehicle at an independantist roadblock at La Tamoa, in the commune of Paita, France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia on May 19, 2024. Delphine Mayeur/AFP via Getty Images

Two of France’s territories in the Pacific—French Polynesia and New Caledonia—will argue for independence before the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee).

The Committee will also hear petitioners from both islands who oppose the move. The Tapura party representative says the majority of Polynesians are not for independence.