- French President Emmanuel Macron made a surprise visit to New Caledonia, expressing confidence that security measures are keeping the unrest under control.
- Government spokeswoman Prisca Thévenot announced the visit, which required Macron to change his schedule.
- President Macron will visit New Caledonia rather than Normandy following deadly violence that left six people dead in a week.
French President Emmanuel Macron makes a surprise visit to riot-hit New Caledonia, signaling growing confidence from French authorities that heightened security and emergency measures are curbing deadly unrest in the French Pacific region. There is.
Government spokeswoman Prisca Thévenot announced the trip, which required major changes to Macron’s schedule. “He is planning to go there tonight,” she said after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting where the president announced he had decided to go there himself.
President Macron was scheduled to visit Normandy in northern France on Wednesday. Instead, he will fly to the archipelago, east of Australia and 10 time zones from Paris, which has seen deadly violence, looting, arson and other unrest in the past year. Six people, including two military police officers, were killed in the past week.
Australia, New Zealand begin evacuation of citizens amid violent riots in New Caledonia
Last Wednesday, Paris declared a state of emergency for at least 12 days on the island, whose indigenous people have long sought independence from France, and sent 1,000 troops to strengthen security forces that have lost control of some areas of the capital Nouméa. Reinforcements were quickly brought in.
Australians and other tourists aboard a Royal Australian Air Force Hercules prepare to depart from Magenta Airport in Noumea, New Caledonia, May 21, 2024. Australia and New Zealand have begun sending residents stranded by the violence back to New Caledonia. France’s South Pacific territory. (LAC Adam Abela/Royal Australian Airfares via AP)
Government spokesperson Thévenot said: “In the face of the outbreak of violence, our priority is to restore order in New Caledonia to allow dialogue to resume.”
“Calm is returning. The situation is not completely back to normal, but it is improving. It is clear that a lot of work remains to be done before normalcy can be restored. The government is mobilizing.”
Since the weekend, French authorities have prioritized clearing barricades and burned-out vehicle debris from the main road leading to Noumea’s international airport, raising the prospect that stranded tourists will finally be able to leave the country.
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Australia and New Zealand sent planes to New Caledonia on Tuesday to begin repatriating stranded nationals.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia had received permission from French authorities for two evacuation flights.
A few hours later, a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules landed in Noumea. The plane can carry 124 passengers, according to the Pentagon.
“We continue to work toward further flights,” Wong wrote on social media platform X on Tuesday.
