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.
On November 6, 2025, at the Bourse du travail in Paris, six former Kanak independence detainees held their first collective public appearance. Released under judicial supervision after a year of provisional detention from June 2024 to June 2025, they remain under investigation in the probe into the May 2024 insurrectional violence in New Caledonia.
The participants include Christian Tein, president of the Front de libération nationale kanak et socialiste (FLNKS) and head of the cellules de coordination des actions de terrain (CCAT), as well as Dimitri Qenegei, Guillaume Vama, Brenda Wanabo, Yewa Waetheane, and Steeve Unë. Presenting themselves as 'former political prisoners,' they voiced their grievances at this press conference before attending a meeting of the Solidarité Kanaky collective.
This initiative comes just days before the first visit to New Caledonia by Overseas Minister Naïma Moutchou, from November 10 to 14. It is sure to draw comments from the loyalist camp. Christian Tein, whose movement rejected the Bougival agreement signed in July between the state, non-independents, and independents, stated: 'the government is stubborn and continues to decide things in Paris on behalf of the Kanak people. Bougival is indigestible.'
He added: 'we will take the necessary time to lay the foundations for a new agreement, putting independence and elements of sovereignty on the table.' These statements highlight ongoing tensions around Kanak self-determination and relations with Paris.