UPSC Articles
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.
