The President of the Congress of New Caledonia, Roch Wamytan, met with officials in Paris on April 11, 2023. Two days after the French ambassador to Azerbaijan was recalled for “consultations,” independent elected official Omayra Naisseline signed a memorandum on behalf of President Wamytan on April 18, sealing a cooperation agreement with the Parliament of Azerbaijan. This initiative, not coordinated with others, has sparked outrage and confusion in New Caledonia, as Azerbaijan is led by the authoritarian President Ilham Aliev. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took full control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in a swift offensive, leading to the expulsion of around 120,000 Armenians. This incident has caused tensions between Baku and Paris, which supported Armenia.
Reactions from non-independentist groups in New Caledonia were swift after the news of the cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan was reported in the local press. The agreement is viewed by loyalist politicians as a “shame for the institution,” especially since the partnership was not discussed and with a country that has been accused of committing heinous crimes against its own population. All non-independentist groups in the Congress are demanding the cancellation of this partnership between the New Caledonian legislative assembly and the Azerbaijan National Assembly. The independence movement’s needs are being taken into consideration.
During an interview with Le Monde, independentist President Roch Wamytan expressed surprise at the response to the agreement. He emphasized that this was the fifteenth agreement of its kind that he has signed with parliaments around the world, acknowledging the complex geopolitical situation between France and the Caucasus region. Wamytan stated that his intention was not to interfere in matters beyond New Caledonia. Originally, he was supposed to sign the letter of intent for the agreement involving cultural, sports, and parliamentary exchanges. However, he was unable to join the delegation that visited Azerbaijan from April 16 to 19, which included an independent elected official and customary senators, to prepare for COP-29 in November in Baku.
The visit also aimed to establish more political ties through the links developed between the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) and Azerbaijan in the Bakou initiative group, set up on the sidelines of a ministerial summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in July 2023. Despite these explanations, the controversy surrounding the agreement persists, with opponents calling for its annulment. The situation reflects the delicate balancing act that New Caledonia must navigate in maintaining relations with various nations while pursuing its own political aspirations. The complex geopolitical landscape and historical tensions continue to shape the decisions made by its leaders and the reactions of the population to their actions.
