French forces have launched a “major operation” to regain control of a road linking New Caledonia’s capital Noumea to the main international airport, as another person was killed in a sixth night of violent unrest.
Officials said more than 600 heavily armed gendarmes were dispatched to secure Route Territoriale 1, the main road connecting the capital with the airport. Flights to and from New Caledonia’s main island have been cancelled since the unrest began, stranding travellers and cutting off trade routes.
French interior minister Gérald Darmanin said “a major operation of more than 600 gendarmes” was being launched “aimed at completely regaining control of the 60 kilometre main road” and allowing the airport to reopen.
On Saturday, Noumea’s mayor, Sonia Lagarde, said that while overnight violence has eased somewhat, thanks to a 6pm to 6am curfew, “we are far from a return to normal.”
“The situation is not improving – quite the contrary – despite all the appeals for calm,” she said, describing Noumea as “under siege.”
“The damage is incredible … It’s a spectacle of desolation.”
For almost a week, the usually calm oceanside city has been convulsed with violence.
On Saturday, a sixth person was killed, after an exchange of fire at one of the many impromptu barricades blocking roads on the island, a security official told the AP news agency. Two other people were seriously injured in the clash, French media reported.
Two gendarmes and three other people, Indigenous Kanaks, have also been killed.
The unrest has been blamed on economic malaise, social tensions and – above all – a political fight between mostly Indigenous pro-independence activists and Paris authorities.
Unrest broke out on Monday, sparked by plans in Paris to impose new voting rules that could give tens of thousands of non-Indigenous residents voting rights. Pro-independence groups say that would dilute the vote of Indigenous Kanaks, who make up about 40% of the population.
Despite the state of emergency imposed on the territory by the government in Paris – as well as hundreds of reinforcements for security services – residents say violence continues to make venturing out dangerous.
AFP reporters in the city’s Magenta district saw vehicles and buildings torched, with riot police on the scene trying to reassert control. Overnight on Friday, residents reported hearing gunfire, helicopters and “massive explosions” – which were reportedly caused by gas canisters blowing up inside a burning building.
Hundreds of heavily armed French soldiers and police patrolled the debris-filled streets of Noumea on Saturday.
The violence has prompted French prime minister Gabriel Attal to take New Caledonia off the globe-trotting itinerary of the Olympic torch slowly making its way to Paris for the 26 July opening ceremony of the Paris Games.
A local business group estimated the damage from the unrest, concentrated around Noumea, at 200m euros, but the damage to the islands’ reputation may cost even more.
Tourism is one of New Caledonia most profitable sectors, but an estimated 3,200 tourists and other travellers have been stranded inside or outside the archipelago by the closure of Noumea’s international airport.
One Australian family stranded in the capital told the Reuters news agency that they were rationing food as they waited for a way out of the Pacific island territory.
“The kids are definitely hungry because we don’t really have much option of what we can feed them,” Joanne Elias told Reuters by phone.
Elias, who has been in the territory since 10 May with her husband and four children, said she had been told to fill a bathtub in case water ran out, as food stocks dwindled.
“We don’t know how long we’re going to be here for,” she said, adding that her family was among about 30 Australians stuck at a local resort.
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said Canberra was “working with authorities in France and New Caledonia, and like-minded partners including New Zealand, to assess options for Australians to safely depart”.
Aircalin plans to resume flights on Tuesday when Tontouta airport is expected to reopen, while Air Caledonie has no flights planned for the time being, the airlines said.
The New Caledonia government said on Friday the island had stocks of food for two months, but the problem was distribution.
Operations to supply food and medicine to the public will begin with teams including specialists in mine-clearing removing road barricades booby-trapped by activists, French officials have said.
Reuters, Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press contributed to this report
