French territory of New Caledonia voted against independence from France 

French territory of New Caledonia voted against independence from France 

Part of: GS Prelims (Map – based) and GS-II – International relations

In news

• The French territory of New Caledonia voted against independence from France in a referendum held recently.
• The referendum was a part of a decolonisation plan agreed in 1998, known as the Noumea Accord.
• The Noumea Accord, which was concluded in 1998, provided for a practically sovereign status. Under this agreement, New Caledonia is allowed up to three referendums on independence, the latest one being the last of them.

Important value additions

New Caledonia 

• It is an archipelago.
• It is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean.

• It was discovered in 1774 by the British navigator James Cook.
• It was annexed by France in 1853.
• In 1946, it became an overseas territory.
• By 1953, French citizenship had been granted to all New Caledonians, regardless of ethnicity.
• It accounts for around 10% of the world’s nickel reserve.