Another person died after days of violent protests in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, bringing the death toll to six since the riots began on Monday, French media reported on Saturday.
The man was trying to cross a barrier with his son when shots were exchanged.
Three people were injured. The situation in New Caledonia is “far from calm”, although the nights are currently a little more peaceful, the mayor of New Caledonia’s capital Nouméa, Sonia Lagarde, told French broadcaster BFMTV.
On Friday night, France sent 1,000 more soldiers to the island to protect the ports and airport against violent protests by independence supporters.
The mandatory nighttime curfew and the state of emergency remain in force, which allows authorities to prohibit demonstrations and grants expanded powers to the police and the judiciary.
In response to the unrest, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal canceled the Olympic flame crossing in New Caledonia, where he was scheduled to stop before the start of the Summer Games in Paris.
The riots began on Monday as France debated a bill that would give thousands of French citizens in the South Pacific archipelago the right to vote in provincial elections.
This angered the indigenous Kanak population, who are campaigning for their own state.
The Kanak national council accuses Paris of carrying out the controversial reform without considering that it is opposed by the majority of the indigenous population.
For Paris, New Caledonia is important geopolitically, militarily and also due to its nickel deposits.
Residents voted to remain in France in each of the three independence referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021. However, the independence movement boycotted the last vote and announced that it would not accept the result.
