France grapples to regain control of violent unrest in New Caledonia as death toll rises to 4

A state of emergency was declared in New Caledonia on Wednesday

France hopes to regain full control of events in New Caledonia “in the coming hours”, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Thursday, after a third night of riots that have killed four people amid anger over a contested electoral reform.

Rioters have burnt businesses, torched cars and looted shops, and road barricades put up by protesters were causing a “dire situation” for access to medicine and food in the French-ruled Pacific island, authorities said.

France declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia that came into force on Wednesday, and went on to put at least 10 people under house arrest and ban TikTok.