France has declared a state of emergency on the Pacific island of New Caledonia after violence erupted over electoral reform.
Rioters torched vehicles and businesses and looted stores in capital
Noumea in response to a new bill, adopted by lawmakers in Paris, that
will allow French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years
to vote in provincial elections.
Local leaders fear the legislation will dilute the indigenous Kanak
vote. Three deaths have been reported, including a policeman.
French soldiers are being used to secure New Caledonia's main port
and the Tontouta International Airport, which has been closed, delaying
the arrival and departure of tourists.
France annexed the island in 1853 and gave the colony the status of overseas territory in 1946.
Under the terms of the Noumea Accord, voting in provincial elections
was restricted to people who had resided in New Caledonia prior to 1998,
and their children. The measure was aimed at giving greater
representation to the Kanaks.
In the 2019 census. 41.2% of New Caledonia’s. population were Kanaks.
Europeans, mainly French, accounted for 24.1% of the population
(65,488).