New Caledonia: Independentists officially reject the Bougival Agreement

The Socialist Kanak National Liberation Front (FLNKS), the main pro-independence movement in New Caledonia, confirmed on Wednesday that it rejects the Bougival Agreement signed in early July with the government and non-independence supporters. The decision was made on Saturday at an extraordinary congress of the movement and confirmed on Wednesday at a press conference in Noumea.

The FLNKS "formally rejects the Bougival agreement project, due to its incompatibility with the foundations and achievements of our struggle," said Dominique Fochi, secretary general of the Caledonian Union and member of the FLNKS political bureau.

This text notably provides for the creation of a "State of New Caledonia" and a Caledonian nationality, as well as the possibility of transferring sovereign powers (currency, justice, police). But it does not provide for a new referendum on independence, sparking a storm of protest among independence activists.

"Bougival is behind us," said Marie-Pierre Goyetche (Labour Party), also a member of the political bureau. "It's a blanket rejection, we will not participate in the drafting committee" proposed by the Minister of Overseas Territories. "We are launching a peaceful appeal to our active forces to say stop to the State if it intends to force its way through," added Marie-Pierre Goyetche.

In a video conference from Mulhouse, the president of the FLNKS, Christian Tein , denounced "a forced agreement proposed by Macron" .

Without waiting for this rejection to be made official, the Minister for Overseas Territories , Manuel Valls, announced on Sunday that he would be going to New Caledonia "the week of August 18" to try to save the agreement , which he presents as "a historic compromise, the fruit of months of work (...) with all the delegations, including that of the FLNKS" .

The FLNKS also "warns the State against any new attempts to force the issue through" , a reference to the plan to thaw the electoral body put forward by Gérald Darmanin, then Minister of the Interior, despite the opposition of the FLNKS.

The pro-independence camp's mobilization against the project degenerated into riots on May 13, 2024, leading to months of clashes that left 14 dead and several billion euros in damage.