Macron is making a surprise trip to New Caledonia amid deadly unrest and indigenous frustration
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.
Related articles
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
GOODHOPE, Mo. (AP) — Four people in rural Missouri died when an explosion that could be heard 10 mil2024-05-21North Korean leader Kim leads rocket drills that simulate a nuclear counterattack against enemies
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised salvo launches of the country’s2024-05-21North Korean leader Kim leads rocket drills that simulate a nuclear counterattack against enemies
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised salvo launches of the country’s2024-05-21Venezuela's president meets with accuser in ongoing criminal probe into human rights abuse
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro met with the head of the International2024-05-21Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf has shocked onlookers after being spotted on the streets of Barry in Wal2024-05-21Masters champion Scottie Scheffler builds 5
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Turns out only the rain can stop Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.2024-05-21
atest comment