After 10 days of negotiations, along with a final overnight marathon, France has reached an agreement with New Caledonia. The deal grants the South Pacific territory more autonomy — but stops short of the independence sought by many indigenous Kanaks.
President Macron hailed the deal as historical but it tranquil wants final approval in New Caledonia. If passed, it may presumably create a state of Caledonia at some stage in the French Republic incscribed in the French constitution and a Caledonian nationality alongside French nationality.
The talks stemmed from deadly rioting last year introduced about by proposed changes to electoral guidelines that professional-independence groups said would marginalize Indigenous voters.
The territory has held three referenda on the examine of independence, with voters each time opting to remain with France.
A special congress will be held to finalize next steps. Media reports say they may embrace more sovereignty for New Caledonia over international affairs, safety and justice.
The accord may also eventually allow New Caledonians to change the territory’s name, flag and hymn.
Negotiators harassed out the importance of rehabilitating and diversifying New Caledonia’s indebted economy, which depends heavily on nickel mining, and making it much less reliant on the French mainland.
France colonized the Pacific archipelago in the 1850s, and it became an overseas territory after World War II, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.
