Pacific

French president repeats calls against colonialism

09:24 am on 23 December 2019

The president of France, which controls three territories in the South Pacific, has again spoken out against colonialism.

Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AFP

Speaking in Cote d'Ivoire, Emmanuel Macron described colonialism as a serious fault by the French republic.

At a news conference with Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, Mr Macron said too often France was perceived as taking a supremacy stance and to dress itself in the rags of colonialism.

Two years ago, Mr Macron described France's colonisation of Algeria as a crime against humanity.

Two French territories in the Pacific with a measure of autonomy are on the UN decolonisation list, but France only acknowledges New Caledonia's inscription.

Paris is refusing to engage with the UN on the decolonisation of French Polynesia, which the UN General Assembly relisted in 2013.

Wallis and Futuna is an overseas territory with a French prefect and three traditional kings recognised by the republic.