New Caledonia and Bougainville: Towards a New Political Status?
Date
2018
Authors
Maclellan, Nic
Regan, Anthony
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Volume Title
Publisher
Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University
Abstract
Over the next few years, major political — and
possibly constitutional — changes can be
expected in two of Australia’s closest
neighbours, as New Caledonia and Bougainville
move towards a new political status.
Both sets of islands suffered periods of armed
conflict — in the 1980s for New Caledonia and
in the 1990s for Bougainville. In spite of the
widespread calls for independence, there were
significant divisions within the population and
both conflicts ended with innovative political
and constitutional agreements, including delayed
referendums on their final political status.
Since 1998, each has undertaken a lengthy
transition towards a decision on self‑determination
and the possible creation of a new sovereign and
independent nation. These transitional periods
of economic and political reformation are now
coming to a head. Under the 1998 Noumea Accord,
New Caledonia is scheduled to hold up to three
referendums between 2018 and 2022 to determine
a new political status, with the first vote to be held
in November 2018. After a decade‑long transition following the 2005 election of the Autonomous
Bougainville Government (ABG), and 2015
elections that resulted in the return to office of
President John Momis, there are currently plans to
hold a referendum in Bougainville in June 2019.
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Working/Technical Paper
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Open Access