France and New Caledonia announced a “historic” 13-page agreement today that will see the overseas territory remain part of France while simultaneously being declared a new state. The deal allows for a New Caledonian nationality that residents can combine with their French citizenship.
The agreement comes after deadly separatist violence last year, which prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to call for talks to break a political deadlock between pro-France and pro-independence factions. After 10 days of negotiations near Paris involving New Caledonian elected officials and leaders from politics, economics, and civil society, the parties agreed to the creation of a “State of New Caledonia.”
Key Provisions and Future Outlook
Nicolas Metzdorf, an anti-independence lawmaker, stated that the archipelago will retain “a status within France, with Caledonians remaining French.” He also confirmed in a message to AFP that “no more referendums are planned, except for one confirming this agreement.”
The immediate priority now is New Caledonia’s economic recovery following last year’s violence, which killed 14 people and is estimated to have cost the territory two billion euros ($2.3 billion), reducing its GDP by 10 percent.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou hailed Saturday’s agreement, which still requires parliamentary and referendum approval, as being of “historic dimensions.”
New Caledonia, with a population of approximately 270,000 and located nearly 17,000 kilometers (10,600 miles) from Paris, is one of several overseas territories that remain integral parts of France. It has been under Parisian rule since the 1800s, but many indigenous Kanaks resent French authority and seek greater autonomy or full independence.
Addressing Past Tensions and Future Governance
Last May, unrest erupted after Paris proposed extending voting rights to thousands of long-term non-indigenous residents. Kanaks feared this would permanently dilute their electoral power, undermining their chances of achieving independence. As part of the new agreement, New Caledonian residents will only be permitted to vote after residing in the archipelago for 10 years.
The last independence referendum in New Caledonia, held in 2021, was boycotted by pro-independence groups due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Kanak population. This 2021 vote was the last of three referendums since 2018, all of which rejected New Caledonian independence. The political situation in the archipelago has been in a stalemate since the 2021 referendum.
Macron declared in early June that he wanted a “new project” for New Caledonia. The 13-page agreement announced today formalizes the demand for a New Caledonian nationality and the option for residents to combine this status with French nationality. Under the deal, a “State of New Caledonia” will be enshrined in the French constitution, and other countries will be able to recognize such a state.
The agreement also includes an economic and financial recovery pact that will involve revitalizing the territory’s nickel processing capabilities. Both chambers of the French Parliament are scheduled to meet in the fourth quarter of this year to approve the agreement, which will then be presented to the residents of New Caledonia in a referendum in 2026.
