The death toll from the ongoing unrest in New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France, has risen to 11.
According to NC la 1ere, a man was killed in clashes with law enforcement officers in Thio on the east coast of the island.
Police intervened to unblock roads barricaded by a group of about 20 people. Officers initially fired tear gas to disperse the group, but the situation escalated, forcing them to resort to firearms due to intense resistance.
During the clash, one of the rioters was fatally shot in the head.
The Pacific archipelago has been gripped with unrest since mid-May over a proposed bill to revise election rules. The changes would have allowed French citizens living on the island for at least 10 years to vote in local elections. However, locals, especially the indigenous Kanak population, feared the changes would weaken their voting rights.
In response to the escalating violence, France declared a state of emergency and sent additional forces to help local authorities restore order. On 12 June, French President Emmanuel Macron suspended a controversial electoral reform plan in New Caledonia.
