The Nouméa Accord of 1998 is a promise by the French Republic to grant increased political power to New Caledonia and its indigenous population, the Kanaks, over a twenty-year transition period. It was signed 5 May 1998 by Lionel Jospin, and approved in a referendum in New Caledonia on 8 November, with 72% voting in favour. Under the accord, three more referendum votes, on whether to remain a special collectivity of France or become an independent state, have been held. One was held in 2018, and the second was held in 2020. In both votes, a majority chose to remain French. The Nouméa Accord permitted a final referendum to be held, voted for by the Congress of New Caledonia. It was held December 2021 and widely rejected independence amid boycott by the independence movement. Under the Nouméa Accord, France has continued to control the military, foreign policy, immigration, the police and the currency. France will continue to do so, the vote having rejected becoming an independent state in 2021. Named after New Caledonia's capital and largest city, the Nouméa Accord was the second accord, following the Matignon Agreements (1988). Under the conditions of the agreement, the Vice President of New Caledonia must be a pro-independence politician if the Presidency is held by an anti-independence politician.

Signatories

The following people signed the Nouméa Accord on 5 May 1998:

Popular consultation

A popular consultation for approval was organised in New Caledonia on Sunday, 8 November 1998.

Campaign

The local political class was divided on the question of the agreement. The following political figures and parties called for a "yes" vote for reasons were are often diametrically opposed between supporters and opponents of independence: The "no" side featured:

Results

Source : Décision du 9 novembre 1998 proclamant les résultats de la consultation des populations de la Nouvelle-Calédonie du dimanche 8 novembre 1998