In the news 
On 23 May, Macron met with the local officials and he called the unrest an “absolutely unprecedented insurrection movement.” He also said: "I have pledged that this reform will not be forced through in the current context.” He was also against extending the current state of emergency and said that it could only be lifted if all the barricades and roadblocks would be removed. 

On 19 May, more than 600 police officers were deployed to clear the barricades on the road to the airport, including some 100 gendarmes, according to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin in an attempt to restore order. On 15 May, the government also imposed a state of emergency thus blocking the freedom to communicate. 

On 13 May, the French overseas territory New Caledonia saw an explosion of riots and protests against a vote on the constitutional amendment by the French government that allowed people to vote who had their main residence in New Caledonia for at least 10 years. This resulted in a growing concern among Kanaks, the indigenous community, on protecting their culture and identity. 

Issues at Large 
First, the amendment bill over voting rights. In January, the government tabled a constitutional bill to unfreeze the electorate of New Caledonia. This would include the incorporation of citizens who were either born in the territory or who have resided there for at least ten years into the special electoral rolls from 01 July 2024. Following the approval of the Sénat on 02 April, and by the Assemblée Nationale on 13 May, it still has to be approved by the joint session of both houses of Parliament to be approved. This move has been criticised by the indigenous community of the Kanaks as they fear marginalisation and dilution of electoral power. Since a constitutional reform in 2007, the electoral rolls for provincial elections remain frozen from 1998, thus limiting the voting rights only to the people who lived there before 1998. Opposition to the unfreezing of the electorate had triggered several demonstrations and riots with six deaths and hundreds injured. There had been barricades and road blockades. France had also imposed a state of emergency thus cutting down the freedom to communicate. The property damage estimated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the region was EUR 200 million. French soldiers from the armed forces were deployed to secure the island's ports and the airport, and some 500 additional police officers were dispatched to assist the 1,800 already present in the territory. 

Second, Kanaks and their demand for independence New Caledonia, located in the Southwest Pacific had some 60,000 Kanaks in the 1700s who are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of the island. An independence movement started to emerge in the 1980s among the Kanaks as they were frustrated by their lower socio-economic status and non-involvement in the economic and political spheres. Even though France agreed to grant more autonomy to the region in 1988, the majority of the population termed “loyalists” particularly the descendants of French colonists wanted it to be part of French territory itself. Kanaks had rows with the Macron government over the Noumea Accords of 1998 that had to be negotiated after three referendums in 2021. 

Third, the geopolitical and strategic importance of New Caledonia. France, which is a nuclear power, has air and naval bases in New Caledonia which has geopolitical importance. The archipelago with its natural resources especially nickel is of major importance thus gaining the attention of many powers including China. Emmanuel Macron sees the region as an instrument against the Chinese advancements in the South Pacific indicating that he saw the archipelago as a trump card for France’s claims over the Indo-Pacific. In a statement resonating with his predecessor General de Gaulle, Macron declared that Caledonians “had a French role to play in this part of the world.” The archipelago which is integrated into the French military network includes 1,600 soldiers deployed in naval and air bases to ensure the protection of France’s sovereignty, especially against illegal fishing activities. France had also supported New Caledonia’s regional integration which has led to the region becoming a member of the Pacific Islands Forum along with the Pacific Regional Committee. China had initiated to increase its presence quietly by getting closer to tribal and political leaders mainly due to the region’s strategic position.