Leaders of the Forum Troika, including Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, are currently visiting New Caledonia for a fact-finding mission to evaluate the situation following recent unrest. The delegation is led by Forum Chair and Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, and includes Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, as well as Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter-Shanel Agovaka.
Upon their arrival, the leaders visited areas in and around Noumea that suffered significant damage during recent conflicts, including a public hospital and a commercial center. They also engaged in discussions with the High Commissioner of France to New Caledonia, Louis Le Franc, along with members of the Customary Senate and the President of Congress. These meetings aimed to gather insights on the current situation and explore potential resolutions for New Caledonia.
Prime Minister Rabuka emphasized on social media that the visit is purely observational, as per the request of the New Caledonian government. He noted that the leaders are present to respectfully observe and interact based on Terms of Reference approved by the French State, the New Caledonian Government, and the Forum following the disturbances in May.
Leave a comment