The special commission of the Congress of New Caledonia to renegotiate the “nickel pact” met for the first time on April 22nd. This highlights the difficulty in reconciling political and social interests as institutional negotiations stall and tensions focus on the thawing of the electoral roll. President Louis Mapou’s team has remained silent on the matter, citing caution to avoid appearing to influence the deliberative assembly. Nickel, a sensitive topic, has been a point of contention since 2009 when the Congress regained control over it with the Nouméa Accord.
The commission, established by independentist lawmakers with the support of non-independentists from Calédonie ensemble, aims to address questions raised by the pact and assert their vision on the subject. It also seeks to avoid undermining Louis Mapou by refusing to sign the pact, while allowing time for tensions to ease. In a detailed analysis presented by Ronald Frère, an associate of the president of the Calédonie union, the agreement is described as a “colonial pact to take back control of the raw materials of New Caledonia.” Protests and mine blockades have arisen in response to this agreement in various parts of the country.
The proposal of an organic law to temporarily return the nickel competency to the State, put forward by Deputy Nicolas Metzdorf on March 26, has further fueled the debate. This is seen as a challenge by independentists who view nickel as a key factor in achieving full sovereignty. The assertion that there is no withdrawal of sovereignty has been made by Sonia Backès, a leading loyalist and president of the South Province. Some youth activists have expressed concerns about the potential increase in mining activity permitted by the pact, fearing the loss of resources and lack of benefits for the local population.
The situation in New Caledonia is complex, with tensions rising as political and social interests clash over the future of nickel mining and sovereignty. The postponement of institutional negotiations has led to the establishment of the special commission to address these issues. The delicate balance between political factions in New Caledonia is further strained by the discussions surrounding the “nickel pact”. The differing perspectives on the agreement reflect broader debates on sovereignty and resource management in the region.
The involvement of independentist lawmakers in the commission highlights their commitment to pushing their agenda and ensuring that their vision is considered in negotiations. The reluctance of President Mapou’s team to comment on the pact reflects a desire to maintain caution and avoid influencing the Congress in a contentious issue. As protests and mine blockades continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how the situation in New Caledonia will be resolved and whether a consensus can be reached on the future of the nickel industry.
