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.
China vows to actively promote restoration of int'l flights
Seymour 'achieved what I wanted' in 10
Coronavirus outbreak joins just five other public health emergencies from history
Coalition deals: What happens if things go wrong
Rishi Sunak to apologise for worst treatment disaster in NHS history
Watch: Christopher Luxon faces questions at post
Roads crack, flights grounded as rare earthquake hits US east coast
Ministers to mark 75 years of NATO, discuss more support for Ukraine
Abbey Clancy, 38, shows off a new set of train track braces as she's left red
Biden takes on Trump over Russia, democracy in fiery State of the Union address
National Television Awards 2024 nominations: Michelle Keegan and Leo Woodall go head
Christopher Luxon defends use of taxpayer funds for Auckland