CoveragePost
August 14, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s pro-independence front, the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front), has formally confirmed its “block rejection” of the French-sponsored Bougival project, signed last month. The pact has been presented as an agreement between all parties to serve as a guide for the French Pacific ... <a title="‘Full sovereignty and independence’: FLNKS rejects France’s Bougival project" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/14/full-sovereignty-and-independence-flnks-rejects-frances-bougival-project/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Full sovereignty and independence’: FLNKS rejects France’s Bougival project">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 1, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s largest pro-independence party, the Union Calédonienne (UC), has unveiled the main outcome of its congress last weekend, including its plans for the French Pacific territory’s political future. Speaking at a news conference on Thursday in Nouméa, the party’s newly-elected executive bureau, now headed by ... <a title="Tjibaou’s party unveils plan for New Caledonia’s future ‘independence’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/12/01/tjibaous-party-unveils-plan-for-new-caledonias-future-independence/" aria-label="Read more about Tjibaou’s party unveils plan for New Caledonia’s future ‘independence’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 26, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk The election of Emmanuel Tjibaou as the new president of New Caledonia’s main pro-independence party, the Union Calédonienne (UC), has triggered a whole range of political reactions — mostly favourable, some more cautious. Within the pro-independence camp, the two main moderate parties UPM (Progressist Union in ... <a title="Mixed reactions to Tjibaou’s election to key Kanak pro-independence party" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/11/26/mixed-reactions-to-tjibaous-election-to-key-kanak-pro-independence-party/" aria-label="Read more about Mixed reactions to Tjibaou’s election to key Kanak pro-independence party">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 20, 2024
By Stefan Armbruster and Harry Pearl of BenarNews French police have shot and killed two men in New Caledonia, stoking tensions with pro-independence groups days ahead of a public holiday marking France’s annexation of the Pacific archipelago. The pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) decried the deaths yesterday as “barbaric and humiliating methods” ... <a title="French police shoot dead two Kanaks in New Caledonian ‘assassinations’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/09/20/french-police-shoot-dead-two-kanaks-in-new-caledonian-assassinations/" aria-label="Read more about French police shoot dead two Kanaks in New Caledonian ‘assassinations’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 20, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s security forces have arrested eight people believed to be involved in the organisation of pro-independence-related riots that broke out in the French Pacific territory last month. The eight include leaders of the so-called Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a group that was set up ... <a title="Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: Pro-independence militant leaders arrested" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/20/kanaky-new-caledonia-unrest-pro-independence-militant-leaders-arrested/" aria-label="Read more about Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: Pro-independence militant leaders arrested">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 19, 2024
Asia Pacific Report French police and gendarmes force were deployed around the political headquarters of the pro-independence Caledonian Union in Kanaky New Caledonia’s Nouméa suburb of Magenta in a crackdown today. The public prosecutor confirmed that eight protesters had been arrested, including the leader of the CCAT action groups, Christian Téin, as suspects in a ... <a title="French police raid pro-independence Kanak party HQ, arrest eight in crackdown" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/19/french-police-raid-pro-independence-kanak-party-hq-arrest-eight-in-crackdown/" aria-label="Read more about French police raid pro-independence Kanak party HQ, arrest eight in crackdown">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 10, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Fresh clashes in New Caledonia have erupted in the suburbs of Nouméa between security forces and pro-independence protesters who oppose a nickel pact offering French assistance to salvage the industry. The clashes, involving firearms, teargas and stone-throwing, went on for most of yesterday, blocking access roads ... <a title="Violent clashes in New Caledonia as tensions rise over nickel pact" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/10/violent-clashes-in-new-caledonia-as-tensions-rise-over-nickel-pact/" aria-label="Read more about Violent clashes in New Caledonia as tensions rise over nickel pact">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 27, 2023
By Nic Maclellan In a major electoral upset, Kanak independence politician Robert Xowie has won one of Kanaky New Caledonia’s two seats in the French Senate in Paris. His second-round electoral victory over Loyalist leader Sonia Backès came on September 24, the 170th anniversary of France’s annexation of its Pacific dependency. Xowie is the Mayor ... <a title="FLNKS mayor wins run-off poll to take unprecedented French Senate seat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/27/flnks-mayor-wins-run-off-poll-to-take-unprecedented-french-senate-seat/" aria-label="Read more about FLNKS mayor wins run-off poll to take unprecedented French Senate seat">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 25, 2023
By Eleisha Foon, journalist France has deployed Rafale jet fighters during a military ceremony in New Caledonia, marking President Emmanuel Macron’s first official day in the Pacific. Macron arrived in Noumea overnight on a visit aimed at bolstering his Indo-Pacific strategy and reaffirming France’s role in the region. The historic five-day trip includes a visit ... <a title="Macron in New Caledonia to bolster France’s Indo-Pacific strategy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/25/macron-in-new-caledonia-to-bolster-frances-indo-pacific-strategy/" aria-label="Read more about Macron in New Caledonia to bolster France’s Indo-Pacific strategy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 6, 2023
By Walter Zweifel, RNZ Pacific reporter New Caledonia’s pro-independence parties are prepared to negotiate changes to the provincial electoral rolls, according to French Overseas Minister Gerald Darmanin. On his second visit to Noumea in less than four months, the minister announced the apparent change in the stance of the pro-independence FLNKS movement, which until now ... <a title="French minister says FLNKS ‘willing to discuss’ election roll changes" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/06/french-minister-says-flnks-willing-to-discuss-election-roll-changes/" aria-label="Read more about French minister says FLNKS ‘willing to discuss’ election roll changes">Read more</a>
