Leaders from the Forum Troika, including Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, are in New Caledonia this week to conduct a fact-finding mission aimed at understanding the local situation better.
The delegation is headed by Forum Chair and Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, accompanied by Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. Also present is Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter-Shanel Agovaka.
Upon their arrival, the leaders visited various areas in Noumea that suffered significant damage during recent unrest, including a public hospital and a commercial center. They also held discussions with the High Commissioner of France to New Caledonia, Louis Le Franc, along with the President and members of the Customary Senate and the President of Congress. These meetings were meant to gather insights on the current conditions and explore potential pathways for New Caledonia’s future.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shared on social media that the purpose of the visit is purely observational, as requested by the New Caledonian Government. He emphasized that the leaders aim to respectfully observe and engage according to agreed-upon Terms of Reference, which have been approved by the French State, the local government, and the Forum in light of the unrest experienced in May.
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