France accused of delaying decolonization in New Caledonia

France has used three agreements on New Caledonia signed over the years to delay or manipulate the decolonization process, according to a statement by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), Report informs.

The group described these actions by Paris as part of a broader neocolonial policy.

New Caledonia, located in the South Pacific, is home to the indigenous Kanak people, who make up about 40% of the population and continue to fight for their right to self-determination.

BIG recalled that France"s colonial policy toward New Caledonia has been shaped by the Matignon Accords (1988), the Nouméa Accord (1998), and the Bougiville Agreement (2025).

"The goal was to safeguard the interests of later French settlers, maintain control over the colony, and suppress the Kanak people's legitimate aspiration for independence - a right recognized by international law," the statement said.

According to the BIG, France has used all three agreements to postpone or manipulate the decolonization process, in violation of the United Nations-recognized right to decolonization. Paris has also avoided negotiations with the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), a move seen as part of its neocolonial strategy.