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full screen French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin states that French security forces have regained control of New Caledonia’s capital Nouméa. Archive image. Photo: Ludovic Marin/AP
French security forces have retaken control of New Caledonia’s capital Nouméa after two weeks of deadly riots there, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Friday.
Hundreds of police have removed 24 barricades and arrested twelve people in the Riviére Salée area in the north of the capital, Darmanin writes on X. It was the last area of the capital not controlled by the security forces.
Seven people have died in the unrest in the French Pacific territory. The riots broke out in mid-May when the French National Assembly was to introduce new rules for which of the island group’s residents are allowed to vote.
Last week, President Emmanuel Macron visited the island group and promised not to push through the criticized voting rules. The state of emergency that was also introduced was lifted at the beginning of the week.