Residents of New Caledonia have begun voting in the third and final vote on independence from France, after a fraught campaign and amidst fears of violence. Polls opened at 7am on Sunday and early indications were that calls for the indigenous Kanak population to boycott the vote had been heeded. This is the third referendum on whether New Caledonia should become independent from France. In 2018, 43% voted for independence, a number that increased to 47% in the second vote in 2020. The referendum on independence from France is the third and final vote on the issue.

Source: The Guardian December 12, 2021 02:39 UTC