France and New Caledonia have reached an agreement that grants the South Pacific archipelago greater autonomy while keeping it part of France, French president Emmanuel Macron announced.
“After more than 10 days of discussions, the elected officials of New Caledonia and the representatives of the State have reached a historic agreement. A State of New Caledonia within the Republic,” Macron wrote on X. “The time has now come for respect, stability, and the coming together of goodwill to build a shared future.”
Under the deal, New Caledonia will gain broader control over its own governance, including the ability to change its flag, anthem, and even its name. The framework also grants greater local authority over international affairs, security, and justice, according to New Caledonia’s public broadcaster.
Additionally, the agreement includes an economic recovery plan focused on revitalizing the territory’s nickel industry and processing sector, a key part of its economy.
The accord still requires approval from both chambers of France’s parliament later this year, followed by a referendum in New Caledonia, planned for 2026. Under the agreement, only residents with at least 10 years of residency will be eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum and in future elections.
The most recent independence referendum in New Caledonia took place in 2021, but pro-independence groups boycotted the vote, citing the Covid-19 pandemic’s toll on the Kanak population.
It was the third and final referendum held since 2018, with all three resulting in a rejection of independence.
New Caledonia, about 17,000 kilometers (10,600 miles) from Paris, is home to nearly 300,000 people. France colonized the Pacific archipelago in the 1850s, and in 1957, granted French citizenship to all Kanaks—the archipelago’s Indigenous population.
