France has reached an important agreement with New Caledonia, an overseas territory that has experienced deadly separatist violence. According to the agreement, New Caledonia will remain part of France but will become a new state. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the deal as a “historic” development and called it a “bet on trust.”
The agreement was reached after two previous accords and three referendums, and was aimed at opening a new chapter in New Caledonia’s future. The French prime minister, François Bayrou, called the deal “of historic dimensions” and stated that it still requires parliamentary and referendum approval.
New Caledonia, located more than 17,000km from Paris, has been ruled from France since the 1800s. However, many indigenous Kanaks resent France’s power over their islands and desire fuller autonomy or independence. Unrest has arisen in recent years, including protests and boycotts of independence referendums.
The agreement includes provisions for New Caledonia residents to only vote after living on the archipelago for 10 years and introduces the possibility of a New Caledonian nationality. France’s parliament will vote on approving the deal later this year, and it is then to be submitted to New Caledonians in a referendum in 2026.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/13/new-caledonia-to-be-declared-a-state-in-historic-agreement-but-will-remain-french
