Polls opened in New Caledonia on Sunday for its first provincial elections since 2019, with a heavy police presence at voting stations on the French-ruled Pacific archipelago.

About 2,500 police officers were deployed to secure and monitor polling stations on election day, which began at 8am local time (21:00 GMT Saturday). Long queues formed outside a polling station in the capital Noumea before voting started.

Some 192,000 voters will elect 76 councillors for the three provincial assemblies: 40 in the south province, 22 in the north province, and 14 in the Loyalty Islands. From there, 54 of those elected will become members of the archipelago's congress, the territory's main governing body.

The election, initially planned for 2024, was delayed due to violent unrest between Indigenous Kanaks and French loyalists. It is expected to be crucial in shaping future talks with France on the territory's status.

New Caledonia, located about 1,500km east of Australia, is home to some 270,000 people, including 41% Melanesian Kanak and 24% of European origin, mostly French. Colonized by France in 1863, it became an overseas territory in 1946.

Sunday's election comes after the main pro-independence group rejected a deal with France that would have created a Caledonian state and nationality but scrapped any future referendums on independence.

Three referendums on independence have been held (2018, 2020, 2021), all returning majorities in favor of remaining part of France. Pro-independence groups boycotted the third vote, held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: www.aljazeera.com