Armoured Centaures riot control vehicles are also part of the deployment. Photo: Supplied
High security measures are now in force in New Caledonia, as the French Pacific territory approaches "symbolic" dates later this week.
French High Commissioner Jacques Billant said the measures involve the high-level deployment of law enforcement agencies throughout New Caledonia.
He said this was in anticipation of the highly-sensitive date of 24 September, which marks the anniversary of France "taking possession" of New Caledonia on 24 September 1853.
The date has since been renamed "Citizenship Day", but is still considered by the indigenous Kanak pro-independence movement as a day of "mourning".
This year, pro-independence leaders have also announced this date is a deadline for making "political" announcements regarding their claim regarding the accession to independence.
Billant said security and law enforcement agencies included a current 2600 gendarmes (about twenty squads) and police are now deployed to ensure "public tranquillity".
Some 24 riot control armoured vehicles (dubbed "Centaures") are also part of the deployment.
"They will remain deployed beyond September and as long as needed", Billant told local media.
The "sensitive" period also concerns several events around New Caledonia, including trade and cultural fairs in rural parts of the archipelago.
Police reinforcements arrived at Nouméa’s La Tontouta airport last week – PHOTO Haut-Commissariat de Nouvelle-Calédonie Photo: Haut-Commissariat de Nouvelle-Calédonie
Authorities have started mobilising 460 patrols in sensitive areas, mostly in the capital Nouméa and its neighbouring cities, 24 hours a day.
Ontop of those patrols, another 130 staff have arrived in New Caledonia in reinforcement.
France's local representative added that since the beginning of 2025, about 120 police and gendarmerie officers have been injured following assaults and stone-throwing.
He said the main guidelines under the current operation was to show a "firm" response against "any violent act" and to "restore the (French) State's authority".
The measures, he said, were designed as "preventive" and in a spirit of "not taking any chances".
They will remain in force until the end of September. The patrols also include regular checks around schools.
Meanwhile, a ban has been re-imposed on the consumption of alcohol, except within licensed bars and restaurants (until 28 September 2025).
"No public order unrest will be tolerated," the French High commissioner told local media.
"There is still a feeling of insecurity. This is a reflection of a climate of tension," following the deadly and destructive riots that broke out in May 2024, causing14 dead and over €2 billion in material damage, he said.
