The Nouméa Accord of 1998 is a promise by the

French Republic France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

to grant increased political power to

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

and its original population, the

Kanaks The Kanak ( French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. According to the 2019 census, the Kanak make up 41.2% of New Caledonia's ...

, over a twenty-year transition period. It was signed 5 May 1998 by

Lionel Jospin Lionel Robert Jospin (; born 12 July 1937) is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002. Jospin was First Secretary of the Socialist Party from 1995 to 1997 and the party's candidate for President of France in ...

, and approved in a referendum in New Caledonia on 8 November, with 72% voting in favour. Under the accord, two more referendum votes, on whether to remain a special collectivity of France or become an independent state, have been held. One was held in 2018, and the second was held in 2020. In both votes a majority chose to remain French. The Nouméa Accord permitted a final referendum to be held, voted for by the

Congress of New Caledonia The Congress of New Caledonia (french: Congrès de la Nouvelle-Calédonie), a "territorial congress" (''congrès territorial'' or ''congrès du territoire''), is the legislature of New Caledonia. It has 54 members who serve five-year terms, sel ...

. It was held December 2021 and overwhelmingly rejected independence. Under the Nouméa Accord, France has continued to control

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

and

foreign policy A State (polity), state's foreign policy or external policy (as opposed to internal or domestic policy) is its objectives and activities in relation to its interactions with other states, unions, and other political entities, whether bilaterall ...

immigration Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, and ...

police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...

and

currency A currency, "in circulation", from la, currens, -entis, literally meaning "running" or "traversing" is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins. A more general def ...

. France will continue to do so, the vote having rejected becoming an independent state in 2021. Named after New Caledonia's capital and largest city, the

Nouméa Nouméa () is the capital and largest city of the French special collectivity of New Caledonia and is also the largest francophone city in Oceania. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, a ...

Accord was the second accord following the

Matignon Agreements (1988) The Matignon Agreements were agreements signed in the Hôtel Matignon by Jean-Marie Tjibaou and Jacques Lafleur on 26 June 1988 between loyalists who wanted to keep New Caledonia as a part of the French Republic, and separatists, who did not. The ag ...

. Under the conditions of the Accord, the

Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...

of New Caledonia must be a pro-independence politician if the

Presidency A presidency is an administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation. Although often the executive branch of government, and often personified by a ...

is held by an anti-independence politician.

Signatories

The following people signed the Nouméa Accord on 5 May 1998: * on behalf of the

: **

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

, the negotiations having been conducted on his behalf by his interior counselor Alain Christnacht, **

Jean-Jack Queyranne Jean-Jack Queyranne (born 2 November 1945) is a French politician. He has been the Regional President of the Rhône-Alpes since June 2002 (succeeding Anne-Marie Comparini) and is a deputy in the National Assembly from the seventh district of R ...

, secretary of state of Overseas Affairs to the Minister of the Interior, the negotiations having been conducted on his behalf by his chief of staff Thierry Lataste. * on behalf of the

Rally for Caledonia in the Republic The Rally (french: Le Rassemblement; until 2004 Rally for Caledonia in the Republic, french: Rassemblement pour une Calédonie dans la République; from 2004 to 2014 Rally–UMP) is a conservative political party in New Caledonia, strongly suppo ...

(RPCR, anti-independence party) : **

Jacques Lafleur Jacques Lafleur (20 November 1932 – 4 December 2010) was a French politician born in Nouméa, New Caledonia, France. Lafleur was a leader of one of the two anti-independence parties in New Caledonia, the RPCR (Rally for Caledonia in the Repub ...

, president of RPCR, President of the South Province Assembly and representative for the 1st electoral division of New Caledonia, **

Pierre Frogier Pierre Frogier (born 16 November 1950, Nouméa, New Caledonia) is a French politician, who was President of the Government of New Caledonia from 2001 to 2004. He has been French senator for New Caledonia since 2011, and was member of the Nati ...

, representative for the 2nd electoral division, 1st Vice President of the South Province Assembly and mayor of

Mont-Dore Mont-DoreCommune de Mont-Dore (63236)
code officiel géographique, INSEE ...

, **

Simon Loueckhote Simon Loueckhote (born 7 May 1957) is a French politician and a former member of the Senate of France, representing the island of New Caledonia. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement. He served as President of the Congress of New ...

, Senator from New Caledonia and elected from the Assembly of the

Loyalty Islands Province The Loyalty Islands Province ( French ''Province des îles Loyauté'') is one of three administrative subdivisions of New Caledonia encompassing the Loyalty Island (french: Îles Loyauté) archipelago in the Pacific, which are located northeast of ...

and

as well as being municipal councillor for

Ouvéa Ouvéa () or Uvea is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from t ...

, ** Harold Martin, President of the Territorial Congress, elected from the South Province Assembly and mayor of

Païta Païta () is a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. New Caledonia's international airport, La Tontouta International Airport, is located there. Geography ...

, ** Jean Lèques, mayor of

, elected from the South Province Assembly and

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...

, ** Bernard Deladrière,

's chief of staff. * on behalf of the

Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (french: Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste, FLNKS) is a pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It was founded in 1984 at a congress of various politica ...

(FLNKS, pro-independence): ** Rock Wamytan, unitary president of

FLNKS The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (french: Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste, FLNKS) is a pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It was founded in 1984 at a congress of various politica ...

, member of the

Caledonian Union The Caledonian Union (, UC) is a pro-independence and the oldest political party in New Caledonia. In the latest legislative elections of May 10, 2009, the party won around 11.65% of the popular vote, and 9 out of 54 seats in the Territorial Co ...

(UC) part, Grand Chief of the Saint-Louis tribe and of the Pont-des-Français district, elected from the South Province Assembly and

, **

Paul Néaoutyine Paul Néaoutyine (born October 12, 1951 in Poindimié) is a New Caledonian politician. A Kanak The Kanak (French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France ...

, chief of the

Party of Kanak Liberation The Party of Kanak Liberation (french: Parti de libération kanak, Palika) is a socialist pro-independence political party in New Caledonia. It is a component of the National Union for Independence, which in turn is one of the two components of ...

(Palika) and the

National Union for Independence The National Union for Independence (french: Union nationale pour l'indépendance, UNI) is a militant Socialism, socialist Secession, pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It is a component of the Kanak Socialist Nationa ...

(UNI) elected from the North Province Assembly and

as well as mayor of

Poindimié Poindimié is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The Poindimié Islands, a group of seven tiny islets where seabirds and sea turtles nest, lies off the coast of the commune. ...

Charles Pidjot Charles 'Charly' Pidjot (17 July 1962 - 11 September 2012) was a pro-independence politician from New Caledonia who was a member of the Kanak people. He was born in the community of Conceptions in Le Mont-Dore (New-Caledonia) and was the presiden ...

, member of the UC, nephew of former deputy

Rock Pidjot Rock Pidjot (born November 8, 1907 in Mont-Dore, France - November 23, 1990) was a New Caledonian politician. He served in the National Assembly of France from 1964 until 1986; in that time he sat as a member of five parties, ending with the F ...

, ** Victor Tutugoro, spokesman for the

Melanesian Progressive Union The Melanesian Progressive Union (french: Union progressiste mélanésienne, UPM) is a militant socialist pro-independence political party in New Caledonia. It is a component of the National Union for Independence, which in turn is one of the ...

(UPM)

Popular consultation

Popular consultation for approval of the accords was organised in

on Sunday, 8 November 1998.

Campaign

The local political class was divided on the question of the Nouméa agreement. The following political figures and parties call for a "yes" vote, for reasons that are often diametrically opposed between supporters and opponents of independence: * the two main signatories, Jacques Lafleur's RPCR (which focuses on "at least 20 years of peace and stability" and a "future in the Republic") and Rock Wamytan's FLNKS (on behalf of the general interest of the country and future generations "), * the other two independentist movements, of moderate tradition, represented in the institutions, the Socialist Kanak Liberation Party (LKS) of Nidoïsh Naisseline ("the future of our country is at stake") and the Federation of Committees Coordinating Independents (FCCI) of Raphaël Mapou, Leopold Jorédié and François Burck ("yes to the long march of the men and women of this country, the yes to our common history so that it does not stop"). * the various mayors of

Bourail Bourail is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Geography Bourail is a rural town of Grande Terre, New Caledonia's main island. The municipality stretches between the mounta ...

and

Dumbéa Dumbéa (, ) is a commune in France, commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province, New Caledonia, South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The population of the commune was 35,873 according ...

, respectively Jean-Pierre Aïfa and Bernard Marant, long-time opponents of the RPCR * Delin Wema, former

Kanak The Kanak (French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. According to the 2019 census, the Kanak make up 41.2% of New Caledonia' ...

RPCR executive in the North Province who became one of the leading figures in the new party Developing Together to Build the Future (DECA), * Thierry Valet and Jean-Claude Legras, two members of

from Une Nouvelle-Calédonie pour tous (UNCT, an organisation created by dissidents from RPCR which subsequently became the principal opposition to

within the anti-independence camp), who put themselves at odds with the official position of their movement (for them, the "Yes ... reconciles at the same time the respect of the others, of their culture, their way of life and the necessary mobilization of all energies to develop the economy of New Caledonia to guarantee social progress and full employment"). The "no" side featured: * the two main moderate anti-independence parties in opposition to RPCR: Dider Leroux's UNCT, which saw the Accord as paving the way for a "

banana republic In political science, the term banana republic describes a politically unstable country with an economy dependent upon the export of natural resources. In 1904, the American author O. Henry coined the term to describe Honduras and neighboring ...

", reinforcing the hegemony of the RPCR over local political life and DECA, led by mayor of

Koumac Koumac is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. History On 5 January 1977 about 46% of the territory of Koumac was detached and became the commune of Poum. Climate Koumac has ...

Robert Frouin, who presented the text as a "deceit" and a "Spanish farm where everyone finds what he wants to find", highlighting the differences of interpretation between the interpretations of RPCR and FLNKS. * on the right, RPCR members opposed to autonomy, local section of the National Front (FN) such as Guy George ("I urge you to refuse abandonment and vote no") and Claude Sarran's

Movement for France The Movement for France (french: Mouvement pour la France, MPF; ) was a conservative, soft Eurosceptic and Gaullist French political party, founded on 20 November 1994, with a marked regional stronghold in the Vendée. It was led by Philippe de ...

(MPF) ( announcing a "collusion agreement" between "the socialist government to get rid of New Caledonia, the RPCR to extend its political-financial hegemony through transfers of powers and the FLNKS to satisfy its desire for independence"), as well as former RPCR

Dick Ukeiwé Dick Ukeiwé (13 December 1928 – 3 September 2013) was a New Caledonian politician. Born in Lifou, France, he represented the island in the French Senate from 1983 until 1992, and was a member of the Rally for the Republic The Rally for the ...

, * on the left of the

, Louis Kotra Uregi's

Union syndicale des travailleurs kanaks et des exploités Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''U ...

(USTKE) who wanted immediate independence.

Results

Source
Décision du 9 novembre 1998 proclamant les résultats de la consultation des populations de la Nouvelle-Calédonie du dimanche 8 novembre 1998

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Noumea Accord Politics of New Caledonia Government of New Caledonia Treaties concluded in 1998 Treaties entered into force in 1998 Treaties of France Nouméa Treaties of New Caledonia 1998 in New Caledonia May 1998 events in Oceania 20th century in Nouméa