Macron's Urgent Visit to New Caledonia

French President Emmanuel Macron's unexpected visit to New Caledonia signals growing confidence in restored security on the unrest-hit French Pacific territory. The swift trip, announced by government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot, comes after a state of emergency and deployment of reinforcements to quell chaos in the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron is travelling to New Caledonia, signalling French authorities' growing confidence that reinforced security and emergency measures are bringing unrest on the French Pacific territory under control. Government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot announced the trip. “He will go there tonight,” she said on Tuesday.

The previously unannounced trip required a shake-up of Macron's schedule. He had previously planned a trip on Wednesday to Normandy in northern France Instead, he will be heading to the archipelago 10 time zones away from Paris, east of Australia, that has been gripped by deadly armed clashes, looting, arson and other mayhem.

A state of emergency was declared by Paris last week and 1,000 reinforcements rushed in to bolster security forces that lost control of some parts of the capital, Noumea.

“The return to calm is starting to arrive,” the spokesperson said.