New Caledonia’s 19th government formally took office on Wednesday after its 11 members unanimously agreed on the allocation of portfolios, with the immediate task of securing €109 million by the end of August to avert a complete shutdown of the local administration.
Issued on: 06/08/2026 - 08:00
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Elected by New Caledonia’s Congress last Friday following the 28 June provincial elections, the new government had until now been restricted to managing day-to-day affairs. It must work to stabilise the finances of the South Pacific territory, which is struggling with the aftermath of the May 2024 riots that left 14 people dead and caused more than €2 billion in damage. “We are in a state of cessation of payments,” government president Milakulo Tukumuli told reporters on Wednesday. “We need around 13 billion [Pacific] francs – that’s €109 million – which we do not have.” Without additional financing by the end of August, Tukumuli warned that the local administration could face a “complete shutdown”. He leads Oceanian Awakening – L’Eveil Océanien – which brings together his small centrist party and other non-independence groups.
Oceanian Awakening (L'Eveil Oceanien) party leader Milakulo Tukumuli looks on during the elections for the forming of the 17th government of New Caledonia, in Noumea, on February 17, 2021 AFP - THEO ROUBY
