France lifts TikTok ban in New Caledonia after end of state of emergency

May 29. () –

The Government of France announced this Wednesday the withdrawal of the ban on the social network TikTok in the archipelago of New Caledonia (Pacific Ocean), a measure taken in mid-May in response to the riots that began due to an initiative, currently paralyzed, to extend the right to vote to French residents.

“Population security operations continue to allow the return of calm to New Caledonia. To continue with the end of the state of emergency measures in the territory from Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the ban on the TikTok platform,” reads a statement from the French state service in New Caledonia.

Furthermore, French authorities have reported that the number of people arrested during the riots is now 535, and that the number of police and gendarmes injured is 136.

Around 1,630 tourists of French origin and foreigners have already managed to leave the overseas territory, and another 430 residents of the archipelago have been able to return despite the fact that the Nouméa-La Tontouta international airport will remain closed to flights until Sunday, June 2. commercial, although the closure may be extended depending on security conditions.

The measures prohibiting gatherings, selling and transporting weapons, and selling alcohol will remain in force, as will the curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (local time).

The territory has been in a state of emergency since May 15 after a wave of riots that has left seven dead – three Kanaks, two gendarmes and a Caledonian (Caledonian of European origin) – and more than 535 arrested, so Paris has deployed additional security forces to the archipelago.

The protests began in response to proposed electoral reforms that would give French citizens the right to vote in provincial elections after 10 years of residence in the territory. New Caledonia’s indigenous Kanak population, which has long campaigned for independence, accused Paris of pushing ahead with the controversial reform without considering strong opposition among the majority of the territory’s residents.