France Allows Pacific Islands Leaders to Visit New Caledonia Amid Ongoing Unrest

The French Government has agreed to a Pacific Islands Forum delegation visiting its troubled territory of New Caledonia, after initial problems agreeing terms.

A French Republican Security Corps (CRS) riot police officer stands in front of pro-independence supporters in Noumea, New Caledonia, on July 11, 2024. Delphine Mayeur/AFP via Getty Images

The French government and the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) have agreed to send a team of leaders on a fact-finding mission to New Caledonia. This breakthrough came after talks at the Forum in Tonga.

New Caledonia has faced significant unrest this year, prompting France to declare a state of emergency in May. In response, President Emmanuel Macron made an unscheduled personal visit in an attempt to quell unrest.