The highly anticipated high-level delegation of Pacific leaders to New Caledonia has been postponed by the local government of the French territory, as per reports from RNZ Pacific.
Just ten days ago, the mission received approval from Paris when France’s top diplomat in the region delivered a letter on behalf of President Emmanuel Macron to the chair and secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Suva.
In July, PIF leaders had requested Macron to send a ministerial committee to Nouméa to gather insights from different parties involved in the ongoing crisis that started on May 13, prior to the 53rd PIF Leaders’ Summit in Tonga, which is scheduled to begin next Monday.
The proposed mission, including PIF chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, was planned for this week.
However, New Caledonia’s pro-independence President Louis Mapou requested a delay, citing disagreements between Paris and the local government regarding the responsibility for the PIF mission.
New Caledonia Congress President Roch Wamytan stated that the French government wants to control the mission’s objectives and outcomes, asserting that they aim to solely address the violence in New Caledonia.
According to Wamytan, when Veroqique Roger-Lacan, France’s permanent representative to the Pacific, delivered the mission’s letter on August 10, she emphasized that the French state should organize the mission, as it was their responsibility.
He noted that Roger-Lacan did not acknowledge that New Caledonia is a full member of the Forum, despite the request for the mission originating from President Mapou.
Wamytan criticized the French government’s approach, labeling it as an unacceptable humiliation and an outdated neo-colonial practice. He expressed concern regarding the reception of three Oceanian heads of state by a high commissioner of the French Republic.
Wamytan further argued that the PIF is undertaking a mission to one of its members, yet the French government is using this as an opportunity to absolve itself of responsibility for the current turmoil.
President Mapou has concluded that the necessary conditions for a successful mission are lacking, leading to the decision to postpone it until a later date, given the lack of respect for the New Caledonian government.
On Sunday, Roger-Lacan reassured that France is prepared to welcome such a mission at any time.
RNZ Pacific has reached out to the PIF and Prime Minister Brown for comments, with a statement from the PIF expected soon.
The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit will take place from August 26 to 30.
Prior to the request for the mission, Prime Minister Mark Brown had multiple Zoom meetings with Mapou regarding the political situation in New Caledonia.
New Caledonia, a full voting member of the Pacific Islands Forum since 2016, seeks independence, and its membership was justified based on its progress toward self-governance.
At the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in Japan, regional leaders expressed their desire to send a high-level delegation to investigate the political crisis prior to the upcoming PIF summit.
Roger-Lacan had met with Pacific leaders at the PALM event, stating that France would determine who could enter New Caledonia.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group also expressed solidarity with New Caledonia, with Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai advocating for the independence of Melanesian nations.
Following discussions in Japan, the PIF sent a formal letter to Macron requesting the ministerial committee’s mission.
After some delay in communication, Roger-Lacan presented the signed approval letter from Paris to the PIF Foreign Ministers Meeting.
This development was met with mixed reactions among PIF leaders, as the mission is fundamentally Forum-led and the French government does not have a direct role.
As the leaders’ summit approaches, the PIF’s involvement in New Caledonia’s circumstances is set to be a significant topic of discussion.
Prime Minister Rabuka communicated with President Macron over the weekend, addressing the ongoing situation in New Caledonia.
Roger-Lacan conveyed that the Pacific mission is a gesture of goodwill in international relations and confirmed that the French State is willing to host an information mission when the conditions allow, in collaboration with local authorities.
RNZ Pacific is awaiting confirmation of the dates for what is anticipated to be the first in a series of visits by the Forum, with leaders from the Cook Islands and Fiji expected to arrive in New Caledonia from August 20 to 24.