Gendarmes vehicle in New Caledonia Photo: Supplied
*This story has been updated to clarify it was the nephew of Congress pro-independence figure President Roch Wamytan who was killed in July 2024.
Two people are confirmed dead after clashes between police and dwellers in the village of Saint Louis, near Nouméa, local media report on Thursday.
The confrontation, which is still ongoing, began on Wednesday night, when police attempted to enter the troubled village, often referred to as a pro-independence stronghold.
After police initially used teargas, there were exchanges of gunfire and GIGN 'gendarmeries special intervention group (SWAT) returned fire.
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Two persons had been medivaced to New Caledonia's main hospital Médipôle, but were pronounced dead on arrival.
The two fatalities have been confirmed by Public Prosecutor Yves Dupas.
This brings the deadly toll since riots began in New Caledonia to 13, including two gendarmes and 11 civilians.
Police said they intended to arrest and question a number of individuals wanted and suspected of being implicated in criminal acts since New Caledonia's riots began on 13 May.
Police claim that since May, they have been targeted by over three hundred gunshots from the village.
Security forces have been maintaining a cordon along the main provincial road with two "deadlocks" preventing passage along the road, which is still considered as dangerous for passing motorists who until recently have been targeted by "car-jacks".
The deadlock also effectively prevents over 12,000 residents of the neighbouring city of Mont-Dore to travel to Nouméa for professional purposes. Instead, they now use sea ferries to reach downtown Nouméa.
They have been persistently demanding from authorities that the Saint Louis situation be urgently solved on a priority basis.
In the same village of Saint Louis, in July, a pro-independence protestor described as the nephew of Saint Louis Great Chief and Congress pro-independence figure President Roch Wamytan, was shot dead during a confrontation with French security forces.
The militants had then taken control of the Catholic mission in Saint Louis, which was later evacuated and eventually went up in flames as a result of arson.
French authorities in New Caledonia recently announced stricter curfew hours for the period of 21 to 24 September, a precautionary measure ahead of the 24 September, which is the anniversary of France "taking possession" of New Caledonia in 1853.
One of the pro-independence parties, the Union Calédonienne, also recently said it intended to use the date to "unilaterally" declare independence.
Reinforcements (made available after the end of the Paris 2024 Olympics and its heavy security contingent) have been sent from mainland France.
French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said earlier this week the total number of gendarmes, police and military personnel in New Caledonia had now reached an unprecedented seven thousand.
