France has announced a landmark agreement with New Caledonia that will see the Pacific territory remain under French sovereignty while becoming a new “State of New Caledonia” with increased autonomy.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the accord as a “historic” step and “a bet on trust,” following 10 days of negotiations near Paris between pro-France and pro-independence leaders.
“This agreement opens a new chapter for New Caledonia in a peaceful relationship with France,” Macron said, referring to the deal as the result of two previous accords and three referendums on independence, all of which rejected full separation from France.
Under the terms of the 13-page agreement, New Caledonia will gain a distinct nationality, which residents can hold alongside French citizenship. The territory will also be formally recognised as a state within the French Republic, with the potential for international recognition. Voting rights will be restricted to those who have lived on the islands for at least 10 years, a key demand of indigenous Kanak leaders who feared political marginalisation.
The deal comes after deadly unrest erupted in May 2024, sparked by a proposed change to voting laws that Kanak groups said would entrench their minority status. The violence left 14 people dead and caused an estimated €2 billion in damages, cutting 10% from New Caledonia’s GDP.
Manuel Valls, France’s minister for overseas territories, called the agreement an “intelligent compromise” that balances continued French connection with greater local sovereignty. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said the pact was of “historic dimensions.”
New Caledonia, home to around 270,000 people and located nearly 17,000 km from Paris, has been under French control since the 1800s. While previous independence referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021 upheld its French status, the 2021 vote was boycotted by pro-independence groups amid COVID-19 concerns, leading to a political deadlock.
The new agreement also includes a comprehensive economic recovery plan, with renewed focus on revitalizing New Caledonia’s key nickel industry.
The pact will now be put before both chambers of the French parliament in late 2025 for approval, and is expected to be subject to a New Caledonian referendum in 2026.