** New Caledonia: Manuel Valls, the craftsman of a reinvented dialogue **
On February 26, 2025, New Caledonia is found at a crucial crossroads in its history, while the Minister of Overseas, Manuel Valls, called for a renewal of dialogue and reconciliation. After years of tensions between the Kanak and European populations, his inaugural speech proposes to build bridges rather than walls. The past peace agreements, although founders, show their fragility in the face of recent events.
Valls insists on the importance of “living together”, a concept that must be redefined to really integrate the cultural diversity and the demands of the two communities. While identity issues are increasingly significant, the challenge will be to find significant compromises during the institutional negotiations to come.
This commitment to peaceful coexistence cannot be limited to simple promises: it will have to result in concrete actions and take into account often marginalized votes. The international community looks closely, hoping that this new dynamic could serve as a model to resolve similar conflicts elsewhere. The path to reconciliation is strewn with pitfalls, but the opportunity for a common future finally seems to be at hand.