The Pacific Island Forum Troika’s mission to New Caledonia will be a key topic during this week’s Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting, as stated by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Earlier this month, Forum leaders agreed to send a Troika-led mission to New Caledonia in response to unrest that started on May 13, 2024.
The Forum Ministerial Committee (FMC) will be headed by the Prime Ministers of the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga, following a request from Louis Mapou, the President of the Government of New Caledonia.
However, PIF Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown noted that the New Caledonia Government raised several concerns about due process and protocol that must be resolved prior to the Troika’s visit.
Rabuka expressed his apprehensions about the trip to New Caledonia during the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held in Tokyo in July. He emphasized the need for clarity regarding the context of the visit, stating, “We all know that New Caledonia is a territory of France.” He further questioned the purpose of the mission and the invitation for the visit.
Rabuka hopes that the meeting this week will provide a better understanding of the mission’s framework for those delegated to engage with New Caledonian authorities.