New Caledonia’s capital is “under siege,” according to Mayor Sonia Lagarde, after days of rioting left six people dead. Public buildings on the Pacific archipelago have been set ablaze, and despite the arrival of hundreds of police reinforcements, the situation remains volatile.
French gendarmes have launched a significant operation to regain control of the 60km (37-mile) road between Nouméa and the airport, said France’s interior minister. The unrest began after Paris lawmakers approved changes allowing more French residents to vote in local elections, which indigenous leaders argue will dilute their political influence.
A sixth person was killed, and two others injured in an exchange of gunfire at a makeshift roadblock in the north on Saturday. Previously, three indigenous Kanak residents and two police officers were confirmed dead. Over 200 people have been arrested, and around 1,000 additional officers have joined the 1,700 already stationed in the territory.
Images show rows of burned-out cars, makeshift roadblocks, and long supermarket queues. Authorities have declared a state of emergency, including a night-time curfew and bans on public gatherings, alcohol sales, and weapons.
Speaking to French news channel BFMTV, Mayor Lagarde noted that while nights had been calmer, daytime tensions remained high. “Despite all the calls for calm,” she said, the situation was worsening. She described the damage as extensive, with municipal buildings, libraries, and schools among those burned.
Residents reported hearing gunfire, helicopters, and massive explosions, likely gas canisters in burning buildings. Helene, 42, guarding makeshift barricades with neighbors, told AFP: “At night we hear shooting and things going off.”
The closure of Noumea’s international airport has stranded approximately 3,200 tourists and travelers. Tourists inside the territory have been rationing supplies while awaiting departure. Joanne Elias, an Australian in Noumea with her family, reported filling a bathtub in case of water shortages. “The kids are definitely hungry because we don’t really have much option of what we can feed them,” she said. “We don’t know how long we’re going to be here for.”
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated that their defense forces were prepared to evacuate New Zealanders from New Caledonia while commercial flights were unavailable.