New Caledonia

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New Caledonia, or Kanaky as it is known by its native inhabitants, is an island in the southwest Pacific. Along with neighbouring French Polynesia, it is ruled by France. Its official status is that of pays d'outre-mer, which is directly translated as 'overseas country'. It has had that status since 1998 (between 1956 and 1998 it was an overseas territory). The name derives from the Latin name for Scotland. The capital is NoumÃÂÃÂ©a.

Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864.

Political life is complicated by the fact that the indigenous Melanesian Kanak community is now a minority of some 44% following earlier population decline and immigration under French rule. The rest of the population is of French descent, known as caldoches, with a small East Asian minority.

Agitation by the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak Socialiste (FLNKS) for independence began in 1985. The FLNKS (led by the late Jean Marie Tjibaou, assassinated in 1989) advocated the creation of an independent state of 'Kanaky'. The unrest led to agreement on increased autonomy in the Matignon Accords of 1988 and the Noumea Accord of 1998. A referendum on independence is to be held by 2018.

Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by France and Vanuatu.

Edited from the CIA World Factbook 2000.

External link

Endemic flora of New-Caledonia (French language)
Map of New Caledonia
Finding New Caledonia

A British colony called New Caledonia in North America joined with Vancouver Island to form the colony of British Columbia, which later joined Confederation and became a province of Canada.

Pacific Islands

Other political units