The tension is rising between Port-Vila and Paris over the islands of Matthew and Hunter. In front of the Vanuatu Parliament, Prime Minister Jotham Napat stated this week that “Vanuatu’s independence will not be complete” until the archipelago regains sovereignty over these two territories in the South Pacific.
The Vanuatu government leader also accuses France of colonial practices and now threatens to use “all international diplomatic and legal channels” if discussions with Paris do not yield results.
A change in tone has emerged in the dispute, shifting the focus from maritime boundaries and the delimitation of exclusive economic zones to an issue of unfinished colonization, according to Port-Vila.
This escalation of tensions comes amidst a regionally sensitive context, marked by the New Caledonian crisis. Franco-Vanuatu discussions planned for early 2026 were postponed to avoid overlapping with electoral deadlines in New Caledonia.
The subject has recently gained prominence with the visit of the FLNKS president, Christian Tein, to Vanuatu, where he was officially received by local authorities. In the Vanuatu press on Wednesday, May 6, he reiterated that Matthew and Hunter “belong to the people of Vanuatu,” sparking a strong reaction from the New Caledonian government.
On the other hand, Paris maintains its position and currently refuses to relinquish French sovereignty over the two islands. However, the Quai d’Orsay confirms that a new round of discussions is scheduled to take place in Paris later this summer.
:quality(80)/outremer%2F2019%2F10%2F03%2F5d9654e9dcfab_carte_matthew_hunter-1034444.jpg&description=Matthew+and+Hunter%3A+Vanuatu+government+considers+legal+actions+internationally+if+the+case+does+not+progress){kind=link}