France and Vanuatu vie for control of sacred 'god islands'

A territorial dispute is brewing over two remote islands, Matthew and Hunter, situated 300 kilometers east of New Caledonia, with both France and Vanuatu vying for control. These islands, described as breathtaking with active volcanoes and abundant wildlife, hold deep spiritual significance for the indigenous communities of Vanuatu's southern islands, who consider them sacred.

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It's breathtaking, the volcano is active, there's thousands of birds, it's magic.

While France reinforced its claim in 1975 by installing sovereignty plaques, Vanuatu, which gained independence in 1980, has been seeking to assert its sovereignty over the islands, known locally as Umaenupne and Umaeneg. A 2011 UN report recognized their status as ancient places of worship and ritual. Vanuatu's acting director of the Department of Oceans, Tony Tevi, stated, "On the Tafea island groups there is a god that looks after them and the god resides on those islands."

France, conversely, has no established cultural ties to these islands, not even among the indigenous Kanak people of New Caledonia. In 2009, the Kanak and Socialist Liberation Front (FLNKS) formally recognized Vanuatu's claim after finding no historical links between the islands and their own heritage. This recognition further complicates France's position.

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New Caledonia is not volcanic, so it's very untypical for our landscape.

Formal negotiations have now commenced, with Vanuatu pushing for sovereignty. The situation has deepened political divisions within New Caledonia, where the pro-independence president recently backed Vanuatu's claim. This move prompted the French-loyalist government in New Caledonia to suspend trade ties with Vanuatu. As a second round of talks is expected in Paris later this month, Vanuatu's prime minister has accused France of deliberately delaying the process.

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On the Tafea island groups there is a god that looks after them and the god resides on those islands.