Five people have now been killed and scores wounded in the New Caledonia insurgency as Emmanuel Macron struggles to restore order on the Pacific island. There was a fourth night on disorder on Thursday, despite the state of emergency in place and the presence on troops on the streets.
Military reinforcements from France are expected in the next few hours. Louis Le Franc, the French High Commissioner, told reporters he hopes their arrival will enable them to regain control of those areas in the hands of the rebels. So far the insurgents have caused more than €200 million (£172 million) worth of damage by burning and attacking the island’s infrastructure.
It would seem probable that Putin has opened up a second front in his proxy war against France
New Caledonia is of great economic and strategic importance to France: it is the third biggest global producer of nickel in the world, a mineral used in kitchen utensils and electric car batteries.
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