MSG CAUCUS PRIORITISES DECOLONISATION FOR KANAKY AT KOROR

PRESS RELEASE MSG Caucus | Koror, Palau | Monday, 31 August 2026

KOROR, PALAU, 31 August 2026 – Leaders, Ministers and senior representatives of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), meeting in Caucus on the margins of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (55th PIFLM), have approved a new Roadmap for Support to the Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) and called for accelerated action on the decolonisation of Kanaky-New Caledonia.

Reaffirming their support for the United Nations (UN) Fourth Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, approved the MSG Roadmap for Support to the FLNKS and reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated diplomatic engagement in support of a peaceful, internationally recognised decolonisation process in Kanaky-New Caledonia. Members were briefed in Koror by the President of the FLNKS, Mr. Christian Tein on recent updates in Kanaky-New Caledonia. Noting that the Bougival and Matignon-Oudinot processes have lapsed, Leaders called for a new process that is “Kanaky in design and Melanesian in spirit”, and for a renewed Pacific Islands Forum Troika mission to help prevent further violence. The Chair was requested to convey the MSG position to the 55th PIFLM.

On West Papua, Leaders reaffirmed the MSG’s long-standing support for a visit by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to the Papuan provinces of Indonesia. They agreed to offer additional MSG representation towards the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Envoys mission, to take place in 2026.

On regional resilience financing, Leaders welcomed pledges made to date towards the Pacific Resilience Facility, while noting that contributions remain well short of the Facility’s US$500 million annual target and its ultimate capitalisation goal of US$1.5 billion, and called on high-emitting states to more-than-match Members’ own voluntary contributions.

Leaders have applauded the commitments made under the Melanesian Oceans Corridor of Reserves (MOCOR) under the stewardship of Papua New Guinea and have mandated the Secretariat to develop the Melanesian Oceans Hub in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

Leaders closed the Caucus by expressing appreciation to all Members for their collective efforts in service of Melanesian peoples and communities, and reaffirmed their commitment to Melanesian solidarity, regional cooperation and principled engagement in Pacific regionalism.

The MSG Secretariat reaffirms its commitment to serving the priorities and directions set by the Membership.

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LE GROUPE PARLEMENTAIRE DU GFLM FAIT DE LA DÉCOLONISATION DE LA KANAKY UNE PRIORITÉ À KOROR

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE

Groupe parlementaire GFLM | Koror, Palaos | Lundi 31 août 2026

KOROR, PALAU, le 31 août 2026 – Les dirigeants, ministres et hauts représentants du Groupe Fer de lance Melanesien), réunis en caucus en marge de la 55e réunion des dirigeants du Forum des îles du Pacifique (55e PIFLM), ont approuvé une nouvelle feuille de route pour le soutien au Front de libération nationale kanak et socialiste (FLNKS) et ont appelé à une action accélérée en faveur de la décolonisation du Kanaky-Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Réaffirmant leur soutien à la quatrième Décennie des Nations unies pour l'élimination du colonialisme, ils ont approuvé la feuille de route du GFLM pour le soutien au FLNKS et ont réaffirmé leur engagement en faveur d'une action diplomatique coordonnée visant à soutenir un processus de décolonisation pacifique et reconnu au niveau international au Kanaky-Nouvelle-Calédonie. À Koror, le président du FLNKS, M. Christian Tein, a informé les membres des derniers développements en Kanaky-Nouvelle-Calédonie. Constatant que les processus de Bougival et de Matignon-Oudinot étaient tombés en désuétude, les dirigeants ont appelé à la mise en place d’un nouveau processus « de conception kanak et d’esprit mélanésien », ainsi qu’à une nouvelle mission de la Troïka du Forum des îles du Pacifique afin de contribuer à prévenir de nouvelles violences. Il a été demandé au président de transmettre la position du GFLM à la 55e réunion du PIFLM.

Concernant la Papouasie occidentale, les dirigeants ont réaffirmé le soutien de longue date du GFLM à une visite du Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies aux droits de l’homme (HCDH) dans les provinces papoues de l’Indonésie. Ils ont convenu de renforcer la représentation du GFLM au sein de la mission des émissaires des dirigeants du Forum des îles du Pacifique, qui se tiendra en 2026.

En ce qui concerne le financement de la résilience régionale, les dirigeants se sont félicités des engagements pris à ce jour en faveur du Fonds de résilience du Pacifique, tout en notant que les contributions restaient bien en deçà de l’objectif annuel de 500 millions de dollars américains fixé pour ce Fonds et de son objectif final de capitalisation de 1,5 milliard de dollars américains ; ils ont par ailleurs appelé les États à fortes émissions à verser des contributions supérieures à celles des États membres eux-mêmes.

Les dirigeants ont salué les engagements pris dans le cadre du « Melanesian Oceans Corridor of Reserves » (MOCOR), sous l'égide de la Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, et ont chargé le Secrétariat de mettre en place le « Melanesian Oceans Hub » en collaboration avec le Secrétariat de la Communauté du Pacifique (SPC).

Les dirigeants ont clôturé la réunion du Caucus en remerciant l'ensemble des membres pour leurs efforts collectifs au service des peuples et des communautés mélanésiennes, et ont réaffirmé leur engagement en faveur de la solidarité mélanésienne, de la coopération régionale et d'une participation fondée sur des principes au régionalisme du Pacifique.

Le Secrétariat du GFLM réaffirme son engagement à servir les priorités et les orientations définies par ses membres.

#MSGCaucus #KanakyDecolonisation #FLNKS #PIFLM55 #PacificIslandsForum #MelanesianSolidarity #WestPapua #PacificResilienceFacility #MOCOR #PacificDiplomacy #ClimateFinance #BluePacific

Rabuka stands by MSG appointment

Local News, News, Uncategorized | Published: 7 hours ago | Last Updated: 7 hours ago | By NACANIELI TUILEVUKA

Anna Naupa, left has been appointed as the new Melanesian Spearhead Group director-general. She becomes the first female to be appointed to the role since the sub-regional group was established in 1986.Photo credit:Facebook / Ministry of the Prime Minister – Vanuatu

THE appointment of Dr Anna Naupa as the new Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) director-general was made through an independent selection process.

These were the words of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka who said she was the best applicant.

Mr Rabuka made the comments in response to criticism from Vanuatu chiefs who said the regional position should have been held by a man rather than a woman.

He told this newspaper the recruitment process was merit-based.

“She came out as the preferred candidate. In fact, she came out top of the list,” he said.

Asked whether the comments from Vanuatu could create instability within the MSG, Mr Rabuka declined to comment on the country’s position.

“I will not speak on what Vanuatu has said and their views on that particular issue. But in general, we pick the best candidate, and we’re still going with our gender-positive policies.

“We have to be considerate. I know culturally the Melanesians are new to the culture of gender equality, but it’s something that we have to grasp and go with.”

Dr Naupa became the first woman to be appointed director-general of the MSG Secretariat following a regional recruitment process involving all MSG member countries.

MSG LEADERS CAUCUS MEETING, A SUCCESS AT 52nd PIFLM

RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS (15 November 2023): A Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ caucus was held at the Nautilus Resort in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on Monday 6 November 2023, as part of the Group’s preparations for the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM).

The MSG Caucus meeting was Chaired by the Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Environment and Climate Change on behalf of the Prime Minister of Vanuatu and Chair of the MSG.

In attendance at the MSG Caucus meeting was Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, Prime Minister of Fiji; Hon. John Rosso, Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea; and Hon. Jeremiah Manele, Foreign Minister of Solomon Islands, all deputizing for their respective Heads of Government. 

The caucus expressed appreciation to the Cook Islands Government Organising Committee and the PIF Secretariat for providing the space in the 52nd PIF Leaders Meeting Programme for the MSG to meet.

The Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Leonard Louma, noted that this was the first time for PIF to formally assign a timing within the PIF Leaders Meeting for MSG to caucus and urged MSG to take advantage of this opportunity. He expressed hope that this gesture be regularized and mainstreamed into the format of PIF Leaders Meetings.

The Chairman, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, emphasized the importance for MSG Members to caucus as MSG before PIF Leaders Meetings, as well as at other international meetings, to develop and agree on common positions and strategies. 

On the issue of West Papua and the visit of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights to West Papua and the Papuan Provinces, the proposal by Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka for a “Special Envoy or Emissary” was agreed to and on the suggestion of Papua New Guinea, approved for PM Rabuka and Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape to be the MSG designated representatives to meet with President Widodo on the margins of the APEC Leaders Meeting in San Fransisco.

It was agreed that a letter be written to President Widodo asking for a dialogue meeting with Prime Ministers Rabuka and Marape in San Fransisco. 

With regards to the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the responsibility of States regarding Climate Change, the MSG Caucus meeting was informed that the ICJ has granted the MSG Secretariat standing to make a Submission on the Question of the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change to the Court and that the MSG can make written comments on other written Submissions by other countries and organisations by 22 April 2024.

The MSG Caucus meeting however noted that the PIF Secretariat’s own participation in the advisory proceedings of the ICJ is yet to be formalized.

In relation to the Port Vila Call For A Just Transition To A Fossil Fuel Free Pacific, it was noted that the Udaune Declaration on Climate Change embodies the general position of the MSG Members with respect to Climate Change. The Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil fuel Free Pacific (Port Vila Call) was acknowledged to be consistent with the Pacific countries calls for more ambitious actions and targets in the NDC’s and is aimed at limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius below the pre-industrial levels.   

It was noted that MSG sought support for this Port Vila Call at the FOC meeting in September and received support in a very carefully worded decision that does not explicitly endorse the Port Vila Call but welcomes the aspirations of the Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific.

Leaders agreed to raise this at the Retreat for an explicit endorsement by PIF Leaders of the Port Vila Call for a Just transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific. 

In relation to the Security Environment in the Region, it was noted that while regional traditional powers have made concerted efforts to have countries in the region choose sides in the big power contestation for influence in our region, the Efate Declaration on Mutual Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation and Amity or Efate Security Declaration clearly and appropriately outlines the position of MSG countries. 

Prime Minister Rabuka announced his intention to introduce a proposal for a Zone of Peace to enhance peace and security in the region. In support of this, the MSG Caucus meeting noted that this was consistent with principles espoused in the Efate Security Declaration, which basically reaffirms that climate change and the security of the environment remain our existential threat and focus of attention by Pacific countries should be on this. It affirms the sovereign rights of MSG Members to choose to engage with whoever they consider is appropriate on the basis of their respective security needs and concerns. Furthermore, the Efate Declaration defines principles of conduct that stakeholders must abide by when operating in the MSG area and MSG national jurisdictions.  

As well, the MSG Caucus meeting was reminded that the MSG has an MSG Security Strategy (MSGSS), whose key features relate to the advancement of MSG home-grown and self-help security initiatives such as the Memorandum on Police Cooperation, the Humanitarian and Emergency Response Coordinating Centre (HERCC) concept, and the Formed Police Unit (FPU). It was suggested that the PIF be encouraged to formally call on all powers to refrain from trying to engage in a proxy competition in the region.

On the Fukushima Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) Nuclear Treated Waste Water Discharge into the Pacific Ocean, it was decided that MSG would advocate for the PIF to ensure that the proposed elevated dialogue mechanism with the PIF and the IAEA be established quickly, and a permanent monitoring presence of IAEA at Fukushima be activated soonest.

There was also agreement to ensure that the Fukushima issue is embedded as a standing item of the PALM agenda and that MSG would advocate for IAEA and the Japanese Authorities to help build national scientific capacities to effectively monitor the safety and effects of the ALPS discharge into the Pacific Ocean.

The acceptance and recognition of the principle of respect for the sovereignty of MSG individual members to determine their own National Government positions on this matter, was further affirmed by the MSG Caucus meeting.    

With respect to the MSG Secretariat Membership of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP), the MSG Caucus meeting again acknowledged that there was a real need for PIF to resolve the request by the MSG Secretariat to become a member of CROP given the importance of better coordinating efforts, and optimizing synergies, amongst regional organisations, in supporting PIF’s activities in prosecuting Pacific Regionalism and the implementation of the 2050 Strategy of the Blue Pacific Continent.    

With regards to Vanuatu’s Bid to Host the PIFLM in 2030, the MSG Caucus Meeting noted that while MSG Leaders at their August Summit approved to support Vanuatu’s bid, the PIF FOC, on the other hand, simply noted Vanuatu’s interest to host the PIF Leaders Meeting in 2030.

The MSG Caucus Meeting noted that Vanuatu was deprived of the opportunity to host the PIFLM due to COVID-19 and reaffirmed approval for MSG to support Vanuatu’s bid to host the PIF Leaders Meeting in 2030, to coincide with Vanuatu’s Golden Jubilee and mark the ending of the National Sustainable Development Plan (People’s Plan). 

All the issues covered and agreed upon at the MSG caucus meeting would better place MSG to influence decisions on shared interests on meetings such as the 52nd PIFLM.