2024-11-11
17 分钟Over the last week, New Caledonia has descended into violence.
In May, riots broke out on a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean.
This is about the Pacific territory, the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia.
The territory has, in France's words, escaped state control.
The indigenous protesters were calling for independence from the French state.
At least five people are dead and dozens injured.
After a week of violent protests, France declared a state of emergency.
Ongoing unrest has taken the death toll to 13, including two French security officers flown in to police the riots.
It was really, really dangerous.
French police, they arrested people, they shot us in the street.
The French government took the unprecedented and controversial decision to block TikTok, claiming the platform was fueling insurrectionary disturbances.
And in Paris, a minister made an interesting claim that the violence was also being provoked from thousands of miles away in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
Officials there denied any involvement.
I'm Sam Judah with BBC trending, where this week we're asking if there's any truth to that claim.
In November, Azerbaijan is set to make a show of uniting leaders from around the world when it hosts a major climate conference.
COP 29.
Would it really be riling the French government in a distant territory in the South Pacific?
And if so, could it have any real world effect?
No.
It's impossible for Azerbaijan to influence the violence here.