New Caledonia

The body of a 55-year-old windsurfer, victim of a shark attack, was discovered on Sunday, February 22, in a bay in Nouméa, New Caledonia. Anse-Vata beach was evacuated to allow rescue operations, with authorities calling for caution. The incident follows heavy rains, which increase the risk of sharks near the coasts.

18 Mwezi wa pili, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

In New Caledonia, the March municipal elections act as a rehearsal for the provincial polls due by year's end. These elections, postponed multiple times, hinge on a constitutional reform's adoption. Independence supporters urge high turnout to sway decisions in Paris.

New Caledonia's Congress voted on December 8 without a clear majority on the proposed anticipated consultation regarding the July-signed Bougival agreement. The session highlighted the ongoing deadlock in the Caledonian issue, four years after the Nouméa Agreement referendums concluded. Kanak independentists protested against the French government's initiative.

4 Mwezi wa kumi na mbili, 2025 Imeripotiwa na AI

Three months after his judicial control was lifted in Paris, Christian Tein, FLNKS president, arrived in New Caledonia on December 4. This Kanak figure deeply divides the archipelago, still scarred by the 2024 riots. His return raises security concerns and hostile reactions.

The French Parliament has approved the postponement of provincial elections in New Caledonia, originally set for November, to June 28, 2026 at the latest. This decision, passed by the National Assembly on October 28 and the Senate on October 29, represents a first step toward resuming debates on a sensitive institutional reform. It comes amid the May 2024 violence and the fragile Bougival agreement, rejected by independentists.

28 Mwezi wa kumi, 2025 Imeripotiwa na AI

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.