Macron is making a surprise trip to New Caledonia amid deadly unrest and indigenous frustration
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.
Related articles
Xander Schauffele gets validation and records with one memorable putt at PGA Championship
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Xander Schauffele might have to watch the replay of his 6-foot putt to see ho2024-05-21- MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rhys Hoskins hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning and the Milwau2024-05-21
China reports current account surplus in Q1
BEIJING, May 10 (Xinhua) -- China's current account surplus was 39.2 billion U.S. dollars in the fir2024-05-21- Kim Kardashian shared a glimpse of one of her grueling sweat sessions, after sparking concern over h2024-05-21
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf has shocked onlookers after being spotted on the streets of Barry in Wal2024-05-21Flash floods and cold lava flow hit Indonesia’s Sumatra island, killing at least 15 people
PADANG, Indonesia (AP) — Heavy rains and torrents of cold lava and mud flowing down a volcano’s slop2024-05-21
atest comment