France: Government declares New Caledonia an emergency after violence

Published at: 15/05/2024 01:36 PM

This Wednesday, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, declared a state of emergency in the archipelago of New Caledonia, in the South Pacific, after riots that occurred since the night of May 13 and which so far left four fatalities.

The violent outbreak occurred after the French National Assembly decided to adopt a reform of the island's electoral roll, which would allow residents in overseas territory to vote for more than ten years.

Opponents of the reform assured that the government does not take into account the identity of the archipelago and questioned whether people outside of it decide for them. According to the independence supporters, of the Kanak ethnic group, the reform will reduce the weight of the indigenous population and that political current in the decision of the future.

For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, said that the riots have left hundreds injured, including more than a hundred police and gendarmes. He added that there were looting of commercial establishments and fires of homes, businesses, factories and cars.

Mazo News Team