Macron flies to New Caledonia to establish dialogue with protesters

French President Emmanuel Macron flew to New Caledonia on the morning of 22 May, France 24 reports. The French overseas territory has been the scene of unrest for 9 days, with 6 people killed, hundreds injured, and the archipelago's capital Noumea destroyed.

"The President will hold discussions with all the forces in New Caledonia. The goal is to prepare for reconstruction. The president is also flying there to resume dialogue," French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was quoted as saying by AFP.

The largest unrest in 40 years is blamed on France's plans to grant voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous people, which, according to the indigenous Kanaks, will dilute their vote.

French authorities said that the street riots that broke out on 13 May had subsided after 1,050 military, police and national guard troops from Paris were sent to the island.

However, overnight, two primary schools and 300 cars at a Renault dealership were set on fire in the territory's capital, Noumea, Mayor Sonia Lagarde's office told AFP.

Police have arrested more than 280 "rioters" during the unrest that has swept through the French territory of 27,000 people, authorities said.

Local prosecutors say about 400 shops and businesses were damaged.

The protests forced the authorities to close the airport, leaving hundreds of foreigners stranded on the island.

The protests erupted against the backdrop of a constitutional amendment that allows migrants from mainland France to vote in elections in New Caledonia after 10 years of living on the archipelago. The amendment caused an outburst of discontent among the local Kanaks, who make up 40% of the overseas territory's population. Macron refused to cancel the constitutional amendment.

The Kanaks have long been trying to gain independence. The French authorities agreed to hold three referendums.

In the first of them in 2018, supporters of independence showed 43%, and 2 years later their number increased to 47%. The next vote was overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, with Canadians not participating in the vote, so 97% of those who voted cast their ballot to remain with France.

Macron last visited the overseas territory in July 2023. At the time, he said that "New Caledonia is French because it has chosen to remain French. There can be no going back".

Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin accused Azerbaijan of interfering in the affairs of New Caledonia. Some of the separatists have made a deal with Azerbaijan, Darmanin said in an interview with France 2 radio station.

Recently, a Caledonian politician was invited to Baku, and following the trip, he announced that Azerbaijan supports New Caledonia's aspirations for independence.

Russian propaganda has also begun to provide information support to the protesters. Stories about the protests are shown on the main channels of the Russian Federation. Telegram began comparing Macron to Zelensky and calling for support for the "rebels" with weapons.