Macron is making a surprise trip to New Caledonia amid deadly unrest and indigenous frustration
Time:2024-05-22 00:37:44 Source:politicsViews(143)
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron is making a surprise trip to riot-hit New Caledonia, the French Pacific territory that has been gripped by days of deadly unrest and where indigenous people have long sought independence.
“He will go there tonight,” government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot said after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday where the president said he’d decided to make the more than 33,000-kilometer (20,000-mile) round trip himself to the archipelago east of Australia.
Six people have been killed, including two gendarmes, and hundreds of others injured in New Caledonia amid armed clashes, looting and arson, raising new questions about Macron’s handling of France’s colonial legacy.
There have been decades of tensions between indigenous Kanaks who seek independence for the archipelago of 270,000 people, and descendants of colonizers and colonists who want to remain part of France.
You may also like
- Sale continues dominant run as Braves beat Padres 3
- Nine apologises for using digitally altered image of Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell
- Homicide investigation launched after body found in Hastings
- Stranded livestock land in Australia after Red Sea turn
- China vows to actively promote restoration of int'l flights
- Property at centre of North Shore walkway stoush now up for sale
- Coalition urges Apple to call out Vietnam’s persecution of climate activists — Radio Free Asia
- Jimmy Lai provided HK$1.5 million loan to activists, court hears
- Sophie Morgan suddenly quits ITV show Loose Women as she reveals plans for emigration