Nicolas de Riviere, Permanent Representative of France to the UN: "France will continue on the path set out by the Noumea Accord, while respecting the right to self-determination."

Reality:

Nicolas de Riviere’s statement is more of a political rhetoric than a reflection of reality. In truth, France’s policy toward New Caledonia reveals a fundamental contradiction between its stated commitments and actual practices. Since the Noumea Accord (1998), which was meant to open a respectful process of decolonization, France has systematically exercised institutional and demographic control to circumvent full Kanak autonomy. The three referendums of 2018, 2020, and 2021 did not reflect a truly free and equal choice. The Kanaks, who make up about 41% of the population, have been marginalized through orchestrated demographic changes, notably the massive influx of metropolitan settlers and through a biased electoral system. These practices have directly affected the representativeness of the consultations.

Even worse, the electoral reforms of 2024–2025 intensified this exclusion. They expanded the conditions of participation in ways that bypassed the criteria established by the Noumea Accord, diluting the Kanak voice. The result was massive rejection and violent protests that led to 13 deaths in 2024–2025, a clear signal that the indigenous population does not recognize itself in this so‑called democratic process.

Sources :

https://onu.delegfrance.org/france-will-continue-on-the-path-set-out-by-the-noumea-accord-while-respecting 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d4dlxd10xo

https://www.maire-info.com/explosion-de-violence-en-nouvelle-caledonie-article2-28597

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/12/new-caledonia-declared-a-state-in-autonomy-deal-but-will-stay-french