Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

France Deploys Troops, Bans TikTok To Halt Unrest in New Caledonia

POSTED ON May 16, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey
New Caledonia’s Protest/ Photo credit: The standard


France deployed troops to New Caledonia’s ports and international airport, banned TikTok and imposed a state of emergency on Thursday following night of clashes that have left four dead and hundreds wounded.

Pro-independence, largely Indigenous protests against a French plan to impose new voting rules on its Pacific archipelago have spiralled into the deadliest violence since the 1980s, with a police officer among several killed by gunfire.

On major thoroughfares, the torched detritus amassed over four days of unrest was scattered amid fist-size hunks of rock and cement that appeared to have been flung during riots.

As part of a sweeping French response, security forces placed five suspected ringleaders under house arrest, according to a statement by the high commission, which represents the French state in New Caledonia.

House searches will be carried out “in the coming hours”, it said.
More than 200 “rioters” have been arrested since the clashes broke out, the high commission said.

Hundreds of people, including 64 police, have been wounded, officials said.

Presently according to reports from the French authorities, the third night of “clashes”, though AFP correspondents in the streets of the capital Noumea said the situation and environment appeared calmer than previous nights.

White residents in some neighbourhoods sat on garden chairs, manned barricades and strung up improvised white flags, a symbol of their intention to keep peaceful watch over the streets looted shelves and discarded packaging.

“We just grabbed what there was in the shops to eat. Soon there will be no more shops,” said one woman in a suburb of the capital, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We need milk for the children. I don’t see it as looting,” she told AFP.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron offered to hold talks Thursday with New Caledonian lawmakers and called for a resumption of political dialogue.

– TikTok ban –

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told a crisis ministerial meeting that troops had been deployed to secure ports and the international airport, which has been closed to commercial flights.

TikTok had been banned because it was being used by rioters, he said. By Thursday morning, AFP could identify fewer than 20 accounts related to the violence on the platform.

READ ALSO
Kano praises Emir Sanusi II’s leadership qualities in reinstatement ceremony
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

KANO, Nigeria - Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has stated that his government reinstated Khalifa Muhammad...

READ ALSO
APC caution Cross River members against unauthorize legal suits
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

RIVERS, Nigeria - The cross Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress has wa...

READ ALSO
SERAP urges withdrawal of bill targeting Non-Voters in Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 31, 2025 0

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has appealed to Senate President Godswi...

READ ALSO
Amid doubts and challenges,Tinubu celebrates 73rd birthday with gratitude to Nigerians
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 30, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu shared that he nearly abandoned his presidential ambitions for 2023 due to a m...

READ ALSO
Senate set to prioritize Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills after recess
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 30, 2025 0

The Senate is poised to prioritize the evaluation and approval of President Bola Tinubu’s tax...

READ ALSO
Proposed Age Limit Sparks Outcry Among Political Parties
BY Suleiman Jimoh March 28, 2025 0

In a move that has ignited widespread criticism and debate, Nigeria's House of Representatives recen...

READ ALSO
Nigeria, Canada forge new Aviation ties with bilateral Air services agreement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - In a notable achievement for the aviation sector, the Minister of Aviation and Aero...

READ ALSO
FG sets August deadline for irregular migrants to regularize status
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The Federal Government has revealed its intention to enforce stricter measures agai...

OUR CHANNELS:

Lagos faces severe traffic chaos as Independence Bridge repairs begin after Sallah holiday
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

LAGOS, NIGERIA - Lagos residents faced a challenging situation yesterday as they returned to work fo...


FG signs $174.6M agreement with UNIDO to enhance Nigeria's industry
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Federal Government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have enter...


U.S. shows highest anxiety over AI Job loss amidst technological advancements
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

Despite its advanced status, research indicates that the United States of America (USA) has the high...


Bayelsa communities threaten to halt oil production over security contract dispute
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

BAYELSA, Nigeria - Nigeria’s struggling oil output may be on the brink of another crisis as co...


NITDA Partners Afrovision technologies to bridge job gap for Nigeria’s Tech Talent
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

In an effort to tackle the ongoing challenge of job placement for Nigeria’s expanding tech tal...


Falana advocates for accountability and rule of law
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

Human rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on Nigerians to seek accountability from their le...


FG signals tough stance on underdeveloped Oilfields, calls for strategic IOC investments
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Federal Government expressed its worries on Tuesday about the growing number of idle and underde...


OpenAI valuation hits $300 billion after SoftBank-led fund
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Japanese telecommunications company, alongside a group of investors, has recently announced yet...


Fuel prices expect to fall below N750 by Year-End - NIPSS
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has said that with Dangote Refinery...


Nigeria imposes N20m fine, 10-Year Jail Term for Ponzi scheme offenders
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stated that promoters and operators of Ponzi scheme...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu