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Defamation trial pits Tein against Backès in Paris
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Paris judicial court examined on Thursday, January 15, a defamation complaint filed by Christian Tein, Kanak independentist leader, against Sonia Backès, a loyalist figure, who accused him of being 'the leader of the terrorists' after the 2024 riots. Tein appeared via videoconference from Nouméa, while Backès did not attend the hearing. This case comes ahead of an Élysée meeting on New Caledonia's future.
President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday, January 19, 2026, an "Elysée-Oudinot" agreement reached between the state and several Caledonian political groups, without the involvement of the FLNKS. This document complements the Bougival agreement of July 12, 2025, without altering its institutional aspects, but by dedicating state financial support to the territory. The negotiations, launched on January 16, intensified over the weekend to conclude before Macron's departure for Davos.
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President Emmanuel Macron launched a new round of talks on New Caledonia's institutional future on Friday, January 16, 2026, at the Élysée Palace, without the main independentist movement, the FLNKS. The aim is to clarify the Bougival agreement signed in July 2025, advancing without force but avoiding paralysis. Participants from other political groups showed determination amid ongoing tensions.
Six former Kanak independence detainees, released under judicial supervision, gathered publicly for the first time on Thursday in Paris for a press conference. They criticized the French government for making decisions in Paris on behalf of the Kanak people, just days before Overseas Minister Naïma Moutchou's visit to New Caledonia. Christian Tein, FLNKS leader, rejected the Bougival agreement and called for a new deal including independence.
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Respected dialogue figures in New Caledonia express concern over the potential postponement of provincial elections, fearing a repeat of violent tensions from decisions imposed from Paris. Gérald Cortot, Patrice Godin, and Jean-Pierre Aïfa, close to the independentist movement, warn of risks as Parliament reviews the bill. The measure aims to extend discussions until June 2026 for a consensual agreement on the territory's institutional future.