France launches 'major operation' in New Caledonia as Pacific island faces sixth night of violent unrest

French Forces have launched a “major operation” in New Caledonia to regain control of a road linking the Pacific region’s capital Noumea to the main international airport. The region has been facing major chaos after a sixth person was killed in the sixth night of violent unrest in the region.

The officials noted that more than 600 armed gendarmes were dispatched to secure Route Territoriale 1 which is the main road that connects the capital with the international airport, The Guardian reported. Amid the chaos, flights to and from New Caledonia’s main island have been cancelled, stranding several international travellers and cutting off crucial trade routes.

“A major operation of more than 600 gendarmes, including around a hundred from the GIGN, is being launched at this very moment in New Caledonia aimed at fully regaining control of the 60 km main road between Nouméa and the airport,” French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote on X, formally known as Twitter.

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“Courage and firmness to our gendarmes to restore Republican order,” he added.

Unrest settles down but fear of a bigger conflict looms 

On Saturday, Noumea’s mayor, Sonia Lagarde assured that overnight violence has eased somewhat, thanks to a 6 pm to 6 am curfew, “we are far from a return to normal.”

“The situation is not improving – quite the contrary – despite all the appeals for calm,” she said, describing Noumea as “under siege.” “The damage is incredible … It’s a spectacle of desolation," she added.

However, hours after her assurance reports emerged that a sixth person was killed during an exchange of fire at one of the many impromptu barricades blocking roads on the island. Two others were seriously injured in the clashes, the Associated Press reported.

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What is happening in New Caledonia?

For almost a week, the usually calm oceanic city witnessed major violence and total chaos. The unrest has been blamed on economic malaise, social tensions and – above all – a political fight between mostly Indigenous pro-independence activists and French authorities.

The catalyst that triggered the chaos was France’s decision to impose new voting rules that could give tens of thousands of non-Indigenous residents voting rights.

In light of this, pro-independence groups which mostly comprised of the Indigenous population argued that if this legislation is implemented it would dilute the vote of Indigenous Kanaks, who make up about 40% of the population.

This led to a commencement of violent protests against the French government that forced the Paris officials to impose a state of emergency in the region. The chaos also prompted French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to take New Caledonia off the globe-trotting itinerary of the Olympic torch which is slowly making its way to Paris.

The chaos also affected the trade routes which made the New Caledonia government vulnerable when it came to the availability of resources. Earlier this week, the government said that the island had stocks of food for two months, but the distribution will be an issue amid violent unrest.

With inputs from agencies.