The French Interior Minister has announced the launch of a ‘major operation’ involving ‘more than 600 gendarmes’ to ‘regain full control of the road’ between Nouméa and the airport

On the evening of Saturday 18 May, Gérald Darmanin announced the deployment of ‘a major operation involving more than 600 gendarmes, including around one hundred from the GIGN’, currently underway in New Caledonia.

The aim of this operation is to ‘regain complete control of the main 60 km road between Noumea and La Tontouta airport’, wrote the Minister of the Interior on his X account.

‘230 rioters’ questioned ‘Several hundred forces of internal security, logistical and operational support and civil security are still expected on the territory’, added the High Commission in New Caledonia in a statement.

After the death of a sixth victim on the island, ‘the night was calmer, thanks in particular to the implementation of measures relating to the state of emergency (…) and the large-scale arrival of reinforcements’, the statement added.

A total of 230 rioters were arrested”, it added. The ban on gatherings and the curfew remain in force throughout the country.