Mark Brown, the Chairperson of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, announced that the Forum Troika-led mission to New Caledonia has been postponed until after the 53rd PIF Leaders meeting in Tonga. In his statement, Brown noted that earlier this month, PIF leaders had agreed to the deployment of this mission in response to civil unrest that began on May 13.
The mission aimed to provide a report to Pacific Island Leaders during the meeting in Tonga, which was originally scheduled for this week. However, due to concerns raised by the New Caledonian Government regarding due process and protocol, Prime Minister Brown indicated that these issues must be addressed before proceeding with the Troika visit.
He mentioned that the decision to delay the mission allows for additional time to resolve the concerns expressed by fellow Forum Members. The situation in New Caledonia will also be a topic of discussion at the Leaders’ meeting, which is expected to offer further guidance on how to support the region.
Additionally, Brown stated that the Secretariat has been collaborating with the French State and the Government of New Caledonia to ensure that the mission’s objectives and arrangements meet the expectations of all stakeholders involved. The mission was initially requested by New Caledonia President Louis Mapou and received approval from the French State.
The Troika will consist of Prime Minister Mark Brown, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji, and Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni. Brown reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to support New Caledonia during this challenging period, including through the eventual Troika-led mission at a mutually agreed time.