This is the most important decision taken at the new meeting of the National Defense and Security Council, chaired by President Emmanuel Macron, which took place this afternoon to take stock of the evolution of the situation.

Some military contingents have already been deployed since last week, after the declaration of a state of emergency, to protect the territory's main airport, near the capital Nouméa, and the ports, but not patrolling the streets.

At the meeting, the third of its kind since the riots began a week ago, Macron noted "clear progress in restoring order" in that autonomous French territory in the South Pacific.

Today, the authorities announced the reopening of the road between Nouméa and La Tontouta international airport, after the removal of 76 barricades.

The agents will continue to monitor that area to prevent the barricades from being "rebuilt," announced, at a press conference, the Government's high commissioner in that autonomous territory, Louis Le Blanc.

Controlling the 46 kilometers of road between the capital and La Tontouta airport, on the Grande Terre island, the only one of a certain size in the territory, has become a fundamental issue for the authorities.

Le Franc also announced that the Gendarmerie's special groups (GIGN) [military police] will carry out persuasion operations against the pro-independence groups that build barricades and attack businesses and infrastructure.

The high commissioner announced that the mandatory curfew at 6:00 p.m. local time will be maintained, as well as the prohibition of large gatherings, the carrying of weapons and the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Since the riots began, a week ago, there have been six deaths (two of them gendarmes) and at least 240 arrests, and shops and cars have been set on fire in a number that has not yet been quantified.

Last week, the Government sent a reinforcement of a thousand police officers and gendarmes who joined the 1,700 agents already deployed in the territory.

For a week now, the territory of New Caledonia has been the scene of violence on an unprecedented scale in 40 years, in reaction to a reform of the electoral body criticized by supporters of independence.

The presidents of three other French overseas territories (Réunion, Martinique and Guiana) signed a petition, together with 16 deputies and senators and a European deputy from those electoral districts, to request that the Government of Paris "immediately withdraw" the draft reform.

Although there is now "relative calm," "new outbreaks" of violence could occur with a possible "contagion effect" in other overseas territories, Grabriel Serville, president of the Guianese community, warned public radio today.

The state of emergency declared after the first defense council last Wednesday is valid for twelve days and any extension must be approved by both houses of Parliament.

The main airline with international flights in the territory, Aircalin, announced today that it will not resume operations until next Thursday at the earliest due to the continued closure of the airport to civilian activities.

And the University of New Caledonia reported that its Nouméa campus will remain closed indefinitely.

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