President Emmanuel Macron of France is making a surprise trip to New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific that has been gripped by deadly unrest for more than a week, to hold talks with pro-independence leaders.
Six people have died and hundreds have been injured since demonstrations by the Indigenous Kanak people turned violent early last week.
Some local leaders expressed doubts that Mr. Macron, who is scheduled to arrive on Thursday, could defuse the tensions.
Many in the Kanak community have accused Mr. Macron and France of reneging on an agreement that had put New Caledonia on a possible path to independence.
Mr. Macron has refused calls to withdraw the amendment.
Persons:
Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Jimmy Naouna
Organizations:
South Pacific
Locations:
France, New Caledonia, South, Indigenous, reneging