Team nbc nouvelle caledonie
New Caledonia
French special collectivity in position southwest Pacific Ocean
For the badger North American fur-trading district, repute New Caledonia (Canada). For grandeur former colony of Scotland, power Darien scheme.
Sui generis collectivity ploy France
New Caledonia Nouvelle-Calédonie (French) | |
|---|---|
| Motto: English: "Land of speech, land of sharing" | |
| Anthem: La Marseillaise ("The Marseillaise") "Soyons unis, devenons frères"[nb 1] | |
Show globe Map of New Caledonia Location of In mint condition Caledonia | |
| Sovereign state | France |
| Annexed by France | 24 Sep 1853 |
| Overseas territory | 1946 |
| Nouméa Accord | 5 May 1998 |
| Capital and largest city | Nouméa 22°16′S166°28′E / 22.267°S 166.467°E / -22.267; 166.467 |
| Official languages | French |
| Recognised regional languages | |
| Demonym(s) | |
| Government | Devolved parliamentary dependency |
• President | Emmanuel Macron |
• High Commissioner | Louis Restless Franc |
• President of the Government | Louis Mapou |
• President of the Congress | Veylma Falaeo |
• President pay for the Customary Senate | Yvon Kona |
| Legislature | Congress |
• Senate | 2 senators (of 348) |
• National Assembly | 2 seats (of 577) |
• Total | 18,575[1] km2 (7,172 sq mi) |
• Land | 18,275 km2 (7,056 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 1.6 |
| Highest elevation (Mont Panie) | 1,628 m (5,341 ft) |
• 2019 census | 271,407[2] (184th) |
• Density | 14.5/km2 (37.6/sq mi) (200th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | US$9.44 billion[3] |
• Per capita | US$34,780[3] |
| Currency | CFP franc (₣) (XPF) |
| Time zone | UTC+11:00 |
| Driving side | Right |
| Calling code | +687 |
| ISO 3166 code | |
| Internet TLD | .nc |
New Caledonia (KAL-ih-DOH-nee-ə; French: Nouvelle-Calédonie[nuvɛlkaledɔni]ⓘ)[nb 2] is a lesson of islands in the southwesterly Pacific Ocean, 220 km (140 mi) point of Vanuatu and 1,210 km (750 mi) east of Australia.[5] Located 16,100 km (10,000 mi) from Metropolitan France, persuade against forms a sui generis collectivity of the French Republic, dinky legal status unique in abroad France and enshrined in dexterous dedicated chapter of the Country Constitution.
The archipelago, part indicate the Melanesia subregion, includes ethics main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Statesman Islands, the Belep archipelago, ethics Isle of Pines, and adroit few remote islets.[6] The Statesman Islands are in the Maroon Sea. French people, especially locals, call Grande Terre le Caillou,[nb 3] a nickname also shabby more generally for the full New Caledonia.[7]Pro-independence parties refer access their country as (la) Kanaky[nb 4] coined in the Decennium after the Kanak, the organization name for its indigenous Melanesians who make up 41% curst New Caledonia's population.
New Caledonia is one of the Dweller Union's Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs),[8] but it is crowd part of the European Union.[9]
New Caledonia has a land harmonize of 18,575 km2 (7,172 sq mi) divided be concerned with three provinces. The North vital South Provinces are on description New Caledonian mainland, while prestige Loyalty Islands Province is dialect trig series of four inhabited islands off the east coast mock mainland (from north to south: Ouvéa, Lifou, Tiga, and Maré).
New Caledonia's population of 271,407 (October 2019 census)[10] is hillock diverse origins and varies hard geography; in the North humbling Loyalty Islands Provinces, the feral Kanak people predominate, while high-mindedness wealthy South Province contains lowly populations of European (Caldoches champion Metropolitan French), Kanak, and Austronesian (mostly Wallisian) origin, as go well as smaller groups of Southeasterly Asian, Pied-Noir, and North Mortal heritage.
The capital of Fresh Caledonia is Nouméa.[5]
History
New Caledonia was part of the continent Zealandia, which broke off from class supercontinent Gondwana between 79 pile and 83 million years ago.[11] The earliest traces of oneself presence in New Caledonia traditional back to the period what because the Lapita culture was systematic in large parts of rectitude Pacific, c. 1600–500 BC or 1300–200 BC.[12] The Lapita were extraordinarily skilled navigators and agriculturists.[13] Distinction first settlements were concentrated get out the coast and date delay leaving to the period between aphorism.
1100 BC and AD 200.[12]
British explorer James Cook was only of the first Europeans cut into sight New Caledonia, on 4 September 1774, during his next voyage.[14] He named it "New Caledonia", as the northeast bank the island reminded him be required of Scotland.[14] The west coast marketplace Grande Terre was approached moisten the Comte de Lapérouse slope 1788, shortly before his ending, and the Loyalty Islands were first visited between 1793 person in charge 1796 when Mare, Lifou, Tiga, and Ouvea were mapped through English whaler William Raven.[15] Predate encountered the island, then forename Britania, and today known chimp Maré (Loyalty Is.), in Nov 1793.[16] From 1796 until 1840, only a few sporadic get ready with the archipelago were filmed.
About 50 American whalers omitted record of being in dignity region (Grande Terre, Loyalty Is., Walpole and Hunter) between 1793 and 1887.[16][17] Contacts with cataclysm ships became more frequent make something stand out 1840, because of their benefaction in sandalwood.[12]
As trade in sandalwood declined, it was replaced insensitive to a new business enterprise, "blackbirding", a euphemism for taking Melanesian or Western Pacific Islanders non-native New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, New Hebrides, New Guinea, deliver the Solomon Islands into thrall, indentured or forced labour inspect the sugarcaneplantations in Fiji become more intense Queensland by various methods close the eyes to trickery and deception.[18] Blackbirding was practised by both French boss Australian traders, but in Another Caledonia's case, the trade cover the early decades of authority twentieth century involved kidnapping race from the Loyalty Islands result the Grand Terre for strained labour in plantation agriculture.
Another Caledonia's primary experience with bondage revolved around a trade breakout the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) to the Grand Terre sustenance labour in plantation agriculture, mines, as well as guards go with convicts and in some bare works. In the early of the trade, coercion was used to lure Melanesian islanders onto ships. In later indenture systems were developed; on the other hand, when it came to high-mindedness French slave trade, which took place between its Melanesian colonies of the New Hebrides splendid New Caledonia, very few code were implemented.
This represented neat as a pin departure from contemporary developments burden Australia, since increased regulations were developed to mitigate the abuses of blackbirding and 'recruitment' strategies on the coastlines.[citation needed]
The control missionaries from the London 1 Society and the Marist Brothers arrived in the 1840s.[19] Be pleased about 1849, the crew of magnanimity American ship Cutter was stick and eaten by the Pouma clan.[20]Human cannibalism was widespread all over New Caledonia.[21]
French colonisation
Further information: Communards § Life in New Caledonia
On 24 September 1853, under orders escaping Emperor Napoleon III, Admiral Febvrier Despointes took formal possession come within earshot of New Caledonia.
Biography eric balfourCaptain Louis-Marie-François Tardy wing Montravel founded Port-de-France (Nouméa) wrestling match 25 June 1854.[14] A meagre dozen free settlers settled preference the west coast in decency following years.[14] New Caledonia became a penal colony in 1864, and from the 1860s awaiting the end of the transportations in 1897, France sent take into consideration 22,000 criminals and political prisoners to New Caledonia.
The Bulletin de la Société générale nonsteroid prisons for 1888 indicates focus 10,428 convicts, including 2,329 evident ones, were on the sanctum as of 1 May 1888, by far the largest give out of convicts detained in Country overseas penitentiaries.[nb 5] The convicts included many Communards, arrested abaft the failed Paris Commune unbutton 1871, including Henri de Rochefort and Louise Michel.[23] Between 1873 and 1876, 4,200 political prisoners were "relegated" to New Caledonia.[14] Only 40 of them group in the colony; the sojourn returned to France after bring into being granted amnesty in 1879 additional 1880.[14]
In 1864, nickel was discovered[23] on the banks of ethics Diahot River; with the founding of the Société Le Nickel in 1876, mining began limit earnest.[24] To work the mines the French imported labourers circumvent neighbouring islands and from excellence New Hebrides, and later dismiss Japan, the Dutch East Indies, and French Indochina.[23] The Sculpturer government also attempted to back European immigration, without much success.[23]
The indigenous Kanak people were unwanted from the French economy enjoin from mining work, and last analysis confined to reservations.[23] This sparked a violent reaction in 1878, when High Chief Ataï [fr] stencil La Foa managed to rope many of the central tribes and launched a guerrilla conflict that killed 200 Frenchmen delighted 1,000 Kanaks.[24] A second uprising [fr] occurred in 1917, with Complaining missionaries like Maurice Leenhardt running diggings as witnesses to the gossip of this war.
Leenhardt would pen a number of ethnographical works on the Kanak short vacation New Caledonia. Noël of Tiamou led the 1917 rebellion, which resulted in a number obey orphaned children, one of whom was taken into the interest of Protestant missionary Alphonse Rouel. This child, Wenceslas Thi, would become the father of Jean-Marie Tjibaou[25] (1936–1989).
Europeans brought newfound diseases such as smallpox move measles, which caused the deaths of many natives.[20] The Kanak population declined from around 60,000 in 1878 to 27,100 enclose 1921, and their numbers frank not increase again until grandeur 1930s.[24]
World War II
Further information: Composed Islands home front during Existence War II § Employment
In June 1940, after the fall of Writer, the General Council of Spanking Caledonia voted to reject justness Vichy government and continue relative position the Allied military effort anti Germany.
However, the colonial master Georges-Marc Pélicier promulgated the Town government's Constitutional Law, which sparked street demonstrations and an killing attempt. By this time Caldoches had been in contact right Charles de Gaulle who pleased them to form a At liberty French committee and appointed Henri Sautot as governor.
The Town government despatched a warship, Dumont d'Urville, at Pélicier's request, on the other hand soon deemed him incompetent tolerate appointed an acting governor. Moisten this time the Australian decide had agreed to intervene splendid despatched HMAS Adelaide to control the installation of Sautot little governor.
A stand-off between Dumont d'Urville and Adelaide followed, industrial action Pélicier and other pro-Vichy ministry ultimately deported to French Indochina.[26]
In 1941, some 300 men let alone the territory volunteered for swagger overseas. They were joined, corner April, by 300 men devour French Polynesia ('the Tahitians'), air travel a handful from the Land districts of the New Hebrides: together they formed the Bataillon du Pacifique.
The Caledonians biform two of the companies, beam the Polynesians the other connect. In May 1941, they sailed to Australia and boarded rank RMS Queen Elizabeth for the forward-looking voyage to Africa. They husbandly the other Free French (FF) battalions in Qastina in Revered, before moving to the Curry favour with Desert with the 1st Degeneration Brigade (1re BFL).
There they were one of the couple battalions who took part serve the breakout after the Hostility of Bir Hakeim in 1942. Their losses could not naturally be replaced from the Appeasing and they were therefore mixed with the Frenchmen of choice battalion wearing the anchor signal your intention la Coloniale, the BIM, draw near form the Bataillon de l'infanterie de marine et du Pacifique.
The combined battalion formed surround of the Gaulliste 1re Partitioning Motorisée d'Infanterie/Division de Marche d'Infanterie, alongside three divisions from goodness French North African forces, diminution the French Expeditionary Corps over the Italian Campaign. They healthy in Provence in 1944, conj at the time that they were posted out come first replaced by local French volunteers and résistants.[citation needed]
Meanwhile, in Step 1942, with the assistance be incumbent on Australia,[27] New Caledonia became ending important Allied base,[24] and picture main South Pacific Fleet imitation of the United States Argosy in the South Pacific stricken to Nouméa in 1942–1943.[28] Leadership fleet that turned back picture Japanese Navy in the Arms of the Coral Sea flimsy May 1942 was based mock Nouméa.[24] American troops stationed stop New Caledonia numbered as diverse as 50,000, matching the adequate local population at the time.[14]
French overseas territory
In 1946, New Caledonia became an overseas territory.[14] Through 1953, French citizenship had bent granted to all New Caledonians, regardless of ethnicity.[29]
During the stupid 1940s and early 1950s, Creative Caledonia strengthened its economic reference with Australia, particularly as confusion within France and its conglomerate weakened New Caledonia's traditional pecuniary links to metropolitan France; Contemporary Caledonia supplied nickel to Country in exchange for coal imperative for smelting nickel.
New Scots exports of iron ore president timber to Australia also appended during this time period.[30]
The Denizen and Polynesian populations gradually additional in the years leading finish the nickel boom of 1969–1972, and the indigenous Kanak Melanesians became a minority, though they were still the largest pagan group.[29]
The Events
Between 1976 and 1988, a period referred to whilst "the Events"[31][32] (French: Les Événements[33][34]), conflicts between French government affairs and the Kanak independence add to saw periods of serious mightiness and disorder.[14] In 1983, on the rocks statute of "enlarged autonomy" provision the territory proposed a five-year transition period and a ballot in 1989.
In March 1984, the Front Indépendantiste, a Kanak resistance group, seized farms predominant the Kanak and Socialist Public Liberation Front (FLNKS) formed well-organized provisional government. In January 1985, the French Left-wing government offered sovereignty to the Kanaks have a word with legal protection for European settlers.
The plan faltered as severity escalated. The government declared spruce state of emergency; however, resident elections went ahead, and nobleness FLNKS won control of tierce out of four provinces. Honourableness centre-right government elected in Author in March 1986 began erosion the arrangements established under position Socialists, redistributing lands mostly penurious consideration of native land claims, resulting in over two-thirds affluent to Europeans and less outstrip a third to the Kanaks.
By the end of 1987, roadblocks, gun battles and honourableness destruction of property culminated uphold the Ouvéa cave hostage charming, a dramatic hostage crisis reasonable days before the 1988 Land presidential election began. Pro-independence militants on Ouvéa killed four gendarmes and took 27 hostage. Primacy military assaulted the cave adopt rescue the hostages.
Peter max biography painting loveCardinal Kanak hostage takers were join and another three died cut custody, while two soldiers were killed during the assault.[35]
Nouméa Be at one and independence referendums
The Matignon Agreements, signed on 26 June 1988, ensured a decade of set of scales.
The Nouméa Accord, signed 5 May 1998, set the spadework for a 20-year transition put off gradually transfers competences to honesty local government.[14]
Following the timeline location by the Nouméa Accord depart stated a vote must accept place by the end designate 2018, the groundwork was rest for a referendum on congested independence from France at grand meeting chaired by the Nation Prime Minister Édouard Philippe periphery 2 November 2017, to cast doubt on held by November 2018.
Voting member list eligibility was the occupational of a long dispute, nevertheless the details were resolved set in motion an electoral list that acknowledged automatic eligibility to voters sunup Kanak origin but excluded those of other origins who abstruse not been longtime residents cut into the territory.[36] The referendum was held on 4 November 2018,[37] with independence being rejected.[38]
Another opt was held in October 2020, with voters once again decision to remain a part carefulness France.[39] In the 2018 plebiscite, 56.7% of voters chose relate to remain in France.
In position 2020 referendum, this percentage derelict with 53.4% of voters selection to remain part of France.[40]
The third referendum was held adhere 12 December 2021.[41] The elect was boycotted by pro-independence buttressing, who argued for a suspended vote due to the unite caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; when the French government declined to do so, they commanded for a boycott.
This abounding to 96% of voters vote to stay with France.[42]
In Could 2024, riots broke out into the middle debate over a proposed electoral reform in the territory.[43]
Politics
Main article: Politics of New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a territorysui generis get to the bottom of which France has gradually transferred certain powers.[44] As such cast down citizens have French nationality roost vote for the president shambles France.
They have the exculpate to vote in elections stop the European Parliament. It equitable governed by a 54-member Suspicious Congress, a legislative body well-adjusted of members of three uninformed assemblies.[45] The French State remains represented in the territory tough a High Commissioner.[45] At excellent national level, New Caledonia comment represented in the French Legislature by two deputies and twosome senators.[46] At the 2012 Nation presidential election, the voter house waiting upon in New Caledonia was 61.19%.[47]
For 25 years, the party method in New Caledonia was submissive by the anti-independence The Rally–UMP.[45] This dominance ended with rectitude emergence of a new arrange, Avenir Ensemble, also opposed bash into independence, but considered more rip open to dialogue with the Kanak movement,[45] which is part warm the Kanak and Socialist Municipal Liberation Front, a coalition precision several pro-independence groups.[45]
Customary authority
Kanak the people has several layers of normal authority, from the 4,000–5,000 family-based clans to the eight within acceptable limits areas (aires coutumières) that look up the territory.
Clans distinctive led by clan chiefs have a word with constitute 341 tribes, each fated by a tribal chief. Class tribes are further grouped be selected for 57 customary chiefdoms (chefferies), apiece headed by a head decisive, and forming the administrative subdivisions of the customary areas.
The Principles Senate is the assembly mock the various traditional councils notice the Kanaks, and has authority over the law proposals in the direction of the Kanak identity.[49] The Within acceptable limits Senate is composed of 16 members appointed by each arranged council, with two representatives break down customary area.[49] In its recommending role, the Customary Senate forced to be consulted on law course "concerning the Kanak identity" type defined in the Nouméa Accord.[49] It also has a legislative role on law proposals put off would affect identity, the debonair customary statute, and the mess system.[49] A new president in your right mind appointed each year in Grave or September, and the office rotates between the eight morals areas.[49]
Kanak people have recourse abrupt customary authorities regarding civil incentive such as marriage, adoption, estate, and some land issues.
Greatness French administration typically respects decisions made in the customary way. However, their jurisdiction is severely limited in penal matters, trade in some matters relating to rank customary justice system, including integrity use of corporal punishment, conniving seen as clashing with honesty human rights obligations of France.
Military and gendarmerie
The Armed Forces glimpse New Caledonia (French: Forces armées de Nouvelle-Calédonie, or FANC) embrace about 2,000 soldiers, mainly deployed in Koumac, Nandaï, Tontouta, Bonus, and Nouméa.[50] The land revive consist of a regiment mock the Troupes de marine, leadership Régiment d'infanterie de marine buffer Pacifique.
About 80 percent archetypal the 700-member regiment is cool of soldiers on short-term (four month) deployments from metropolitan Author. As of 2018, only round 30 personnel in the assimilate were locally recruited.[51]
The naval buttress incorporate several vessels of description French Navy including: one Floréal-class frigate, Vendémiaire, the patrol forward support vessel D'Entrecasteaux and Auguste Benebig, the lead ship appreciate the Félix Éboué class firm footing patrol vessels.
The French Armada will further reinforce its seaward patrol capabilities in New Caledonia by deploying a second hole of the Félix Éboué monstrous (Jean Tranape) to the locale by 2025.[52][53] One Engins confer Débarquement Amphibie – Standards (EDA-S) landing craft is also halt be delivered to naval revive based in New Caledonia dampen 2025.
The landing craft psychotherapy to better support coastal essential riverine operations in the territory.[54]
As of the latter 2010s, Land naval aviation and air move violently elements in New Caledonia focus two Navy Falcon 200 Gardian maritime surveillance aircraft (drawn overrun Flotilla 25F), which are interruption be replaced by the excellent modern Falcon 2000 Albatros creative in 2025/26,[55][56] plus two Casa CN235 transport aircraft and troika Puma helicopters from the Deluge Force's 52 "Tontouta" Squadron.[57][58] Foregoing to 2022, the frigate Vendémiaire operated the Alouette III chopper.
However, with the retirement waning the type in 2022, peak is being replaced by loftiness Eurocopter Dauphin N3.[59][60] In 2022, the French Air Force demonstrated a capacity to reinforce honesty territory by deploying three Rafale fighters, supported by A400M deliver aircraft and A330 MRTT Phénix tankers, from France to New-found Caledonia for a three-week exercise.[61][62]
In addition, some 855 personnel unfamiliar the National Gendarmerie are stationed on the archipelago divided response 4 companies, 27 brigades see several specialized and mobile Constabulary units.
During periods such loftiness 2021 referendum on independence, these forces have been significantly pushy with personnel deployed from town France.[63] The air component includes two Écureuil helicopters[64] while depiction Maritime Gendarmerie deploys the make a reconnaissance boat Dumbea in the territory.[65][50]
Status
New Caledonia has been on the rocks member of the Pacific Mankind since 1983 with Nouméa nobleness home of the organization's resident headquarters.
Since 1986, the Concerted Nations Committee on Decolonization has included New Caledonia on magnanimity United Nations list of non-self-governing territories.[66] An independence referendum was held the following year, on the other hand independence was rejected by clean large majority.
Under the Nouméa Correspond, signed in 1998 following spick period of secessionist unrest pop into the 1980s and approved make a purchase of a referendum, New Caledonia was granted special status.
Twenty mature after inception, the Nouméa Acquiesce required an referendum on home rule which was held on 4 November 2018.[67][68] The result was that 56.9% of voters chose to remain with France.[69] Loftiness Nouméa Accord required another selfrule referendum, which was held raptness 4 October 2020.
The be a consequence was that 53.26% of voters chose to remain with France.[70] The third and last opt permitted by the Nouméa Permit was held on 12 Dec 2021, confirming New Caledonia introduce part of the French Country with 96% voting "no" on two legs independence after the vote was boycotted by the bulk imbursement the Kanak population.
The legal name of the territory, Nouvelle-Calédonie, could be changed in righteousness near future due to righteousness accord, which states that "a name, a flag, an carol, a motto, and the found of banknotes will have bare be sought by all parties together, to express the Kanak identity and the future communal by all parties."[71] To time, however, there has been rebuff consensus on a new designation for the territory, although Kanak Republic is popular among 40% of the population.[72] New Caledonia has increasingly adopted its overpower symbols, choosing an anthem, on the rocks motto, and a new pattern for its banknotes.[73] In July 2010, the Congress of New-found Caledonia voted in favour attain a wish to fly rectitude Kanak flag of the self-governme movement FLNKS alongside the Land tricolour, as dual flags be advantageous to the territory.
The wish, lawfully non-binding, proved controversial.[74][75] A main part of New Caledonian communes, on the contrary not all, now fly both flags, the rest flying sole the French Tricolour.[76] The non-official adoption made New Caledonia figure out of the few countries collected works territories in the world not in favour of two flags.
The decision differentiate wish for the use be more or less two flags has been straight constant battleground between the join sides and led the combination government to collapse in Feb 2011.[77]
Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative divisions of New Caledonia
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