New Caledonia's anti-independence parties have walked out of a meeting at the French High Commission in Noumea to discuss the electoral rolls for next year's provincial elections.
Under the Noumea Accord voting is restricted to indigenous Kanaks and those who have been residents in the territory since 1998.
The Accord expired after three referendums in which a majority voted against New Caledonia attaining full sovereignty, though the last one, in December 2021, was boycotted by the Kanaks.
The anti-independence leaders said by next year the roll must be opened either for those who have lived in New Caledonia for at least three years or for everyone.
They said they would refuse any further discussions on the basis that the roll remains restricted.
Pro-independence parties insist the roll is defined in the Noumea Accord and an irreversible provision enshrined in the French constitution.
Next month, the French interior minister Gerald Darmanin is due in Noumea to discuss New Caledonia's future status.
Meanwhile, a leading anti-independence politician has insisted the territory can never become independent unless all three provinces want it.
Sonia Backes, who is the president of the Southern Province, said independence cannot be achieved because most voters in her province are against it.
After the referendums concluded the Noumea Accord process with the rejection of full sovereignty, a new statute has to be put in place.
The anti-independence side wants New Caledonia to become an integrated country within France and be recognised as such in the constitution.
Sonia Backes Photo: Supplied
Fuel blockage in Wallis and Futuna ends
The week-long fuel depot blockage on Wallis and Futuna has ended after it crippled Wallis island's transport services.
Wallisians in the village of Halalo claimed TotalEnergies failed to respect a 15-year-old land use agreement and cut off access to a company depot last Friday.
Petrol stations in the territory have been limiting their fuel sales causing traffic jams - a rare sight on Wallis.
The disruption also affected local businesses and schools and several inter-island flights between Wallis and Futuna have been cancelled.
The islands' rely on generators for their electricity and there were huge concerns the dispute could result in a total power black-out.
