Macron: Reconciliation needed before New Caledonian referendum
France’s president joined the commemoration of the hostage crisis 30 years ago, resulted from the remote island’s last vote on independence, a result Macron would like to avoid this time.
French President Emmanuel Macron has wrapped up his three-day visit to New Caledonia.
He attended a ceremony marking 30 years since a hostage crisis on Ouvea Island.
In November, the French territory will vote in a referendum on whether to split from France.
Macron has told Al Jazeera that reconciliation, and his visit, needed to come first.
Al Jazeera’s Andrew Thomas reports from New Caledonia.
Published On 6 May 2018