French President Emmanuel Macron will visit New Caledonia tonight, according to government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot’s Tuesday announcement. This trip comes as 600 more security personnel are set to join the 1,500 reinforcements already in the French Pacific territory, which has seen its worst unrest in over 30 years.
The High Commission of New Caledonia, representing the French state, will deploy the additional personnel in the coming hours. The Commission stated, “The return to calm continues throughout the territory,” but noted that Noumea’s airport will remain closed to commercial flights until Thursday’s review.
The unrest, sparked by French plans to amend voting laws, has left about 3,200 people stranded in or out of New Caledonia. Six people were killed after makeshift blockades were set up on Noumea’s streets, with cars and businesses set ablaze and shops looted. The Commission is working to clear the remaining barriers and debris.
Australia and New Zealand have sent their first military planes to New Caledonia to evacuate their nationals. An Australian C-130 Hercules aircraft landed at Noumea’s Magenta airport on Tuesday afternoon, according to the AFP news agency.
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