New Caledonia unrest claims another life amid security operations

A man was killed during a French security forces operation in New Caledonia overnight between September 18 and 19, raising the death toll to 12 as unrest in the French Pacific territory persists.

The violence, which has gripped the region for four months, is primarily driven by the local indigenous Kanak population's fears over an electoral roll expansion that could undermine their push for independence, Caliber.Az reports via French media.

Clashes erupted once again in Saint Louis, a stronghold of the independence movement located just south of the capital, Noumea. "We’re not terrorists, we’re not in a state of war," said a local mother as security forces continued operations in the village. The French police have intensified their efforts, actively searching for about a dozen locals suspected of being involved in attacks on security personnel, according to authorities.

The unrest began in mid-May, triggered by plans to alter the electoral roll, which Kanak leaders claim would erode their political power and cement their status as a permanent minority. As fears of disenfranchisement grew, roads were barricaded, and incidents of looting and arson targeted businesses, public buildings, and vehicles. The escalating violence forced Paris to deploy thousands of troops and police to the region.

The proposed changes to the electoral roll, which would require an amendment to the French constitution, remain in limbo. The process stalled after President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the French parliament for new elections in July. With no clear majority emerging from the elections, the future of the reforms and their impact on New Caledonia remains uncertain.