On the night of Monday 13 to Tuesday 14 May in Nouméa, New Caledonia, numerous buildings and vehicles were set alight as the National Assembly examined a constitutional reform. These acts of violence continued the following night
A gymnasium was completely destroyed by fire in New Caledonia. Despite a curfew in place, Noumea was the scene of clashes for the second night running. The police were confronted by demonstrators, some of whom were armed, and an armoured vehicle from the gendarmerie units intervened. Residents are living in fear, and the situation was further aggravated by a mutiny at Nouméa prison, where around twenty inmates managed to escape, necessitating the intervention of the Raid to restore order.
The previous night, the clashes had been intense, with live fire and a toll of 70 policemen and gendarmes injured. Numerous vehicles were set on fire, homes and businesses were destroyed, and vehicles were used as battering rams. The damage to the island was considerable, leading to the introduction of a curfew following these violent events.