New Caledonia Votes to Remain Part of France

New Caledonia —(Map)

On Sunday, the French territory of New Caledonia voted to decide if it should become independent. Over 96% of the voters chose to remain with France. But many people protested by refusing to vote. The strong split between the two sides leaves the future uncertain.

On Sunday, the French territory of New Caledonia voted to decide if it should become independent. Over 96% of the voters chose to remain with France. But many people protested by refusing to vote. Above, a woman voting in New Caledonia.

New Caledonia is a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about 750 miles (1,210 kilometers) east of Australia. France took control of the islands in the 1850s, even though the indigenous Kanak people had been living in much of the region for hundreds of years. The islands are still a territory of France, and the people who live there, including the Kanaks, are citizens of France.

New Caledonia is important to France. It offers the country a strong base in the Pacific far from mainland France. Some people believe that if New Caledonia became independent, it might grow closer to China, allowing China to expand its influence in the area. China is already the largest buyer of the metals New Caledonia produces.

Over the last 30 years, there has been a focus on giving greater power to New Caledonia’s local government. In 1998, the islands made an agreement with France known as the Nouméa Accord. The agreement promised New Caledonia up to three votes on whether or not it should become fully independent. If voters did not choose independence after the third vote, New Caledonia was expected to remain part of France.

Indigenous Kanak people form the main group that wants independence. Kanak leaders asked for December’s vote to be delayed until 2022, after New Caledonia struggled with a bad Covid-19  outbreak in September. But French President Emmanuel Macron didn’t act on this request, and the voting went ahead.

Indigenous Kanak people form the main group that wants independence. Kanak leaders encouraged their followers to boycott the voting. Above, people in favor of independence march on the day after the voting. They are carrying Kanak flags.

In response, Kanak leaders encouraged their followers to boycott the voting. Many people followed that advice. In 2018 and 2020, over 80% of New Caledonia’s voters took part in the voting. On Sunday, just 43.9% of New Caledonia’s voters took part.

With 96.49% of the voters saying “No” to independence, it appears that New Caledonia will remain a part of France. Mr. Macron praised the vote, saying that the people of New Caledonia could be “proud” of the process. In a recorded announcement, Mr. Macron said, “Tonight, France is more beautiful because New Caledonia has decided to stay part of it.”

With 96.49% of the voters saying “No” to independence, it appears that New Caledonia will remain a part of France. In a recorded announcement, Mr. Macron (above) said, “Tonight, France is more beautiful because New Caledonia has decided to stay part of it.”

But New Caledonia is split over whether Sunday’s vote was truly the third and final vote on independence. Similar votes were held in 2018 and 2020, and the results were the same. But some people say that because of the boycott, the vote doesn’t count and the New Caledonia should vote again. These different opinions are likely to keep tensions high in the area.

But even if it was the final vote, the process of figuring out New Caledonia’s future is far from over. Now the government and New Caledonia’s people have a year and a half to work out the details of what the territory’s new relationship with France will be like.

New Caledonia is split over whether Sunday’s vote was truly the third and final vote on independence. Some people say that because of the boycott, New Caledonia should vote again. Above, the two choices for the voters: “Oui” (yes to independence), or “Non” (no).

(Front page image: NewsForKids.net, [CC BY-SA 4.0], based on work by sudd.ch [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)