France and Vanuatu Disagree Over a Pacific Island

Volcanic Eruptions

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:20am

Two islands are near New Caledonia. Some people think a god lives there.

A man named Bruno Senges visited one island in 2021. He didn't see a god, but he thinks it's possible.

The island is very beautiful. It has a volcano and many birds.

There are many birds on Matthew Island.

Another island, Hunter Island, is also very nice.

Hunter Island has yellow cliffs and a special landscape.

New Caledonia is not like this. It's not volcanic.

Matthew Island's cliffs are yellow and very pretty.

The islands look more like Vanuatu than New Caledonia.

Vanuatu's Tafea Province is connected to these islands. They have been arguing about them since 1980.

Tafea Province has a volcano on the island of Tanna.

France said the islands belong to them in 1975. They put up signs to show this.

Now, Vanuatu wants to talk about the islands' future.

The president of New Caledonia agrees with Vanuatu. This has caused problems with the French government.

There are French flags on Matthew Island.

Vanuatu's prime minister thinks France is moving too slowly.

Why are the islands important?

The islands are special to some people in Vanuatu. They think a god lives there.

The UN said the islands are important for worship and rituals.

The people of Vanuatu believe a god takes care of them on these islands.

France doesn't have a connection to the islands. Even the indigenous people don't have a connection.

In 2009, some people in New Caledonia agreed that the islands belong to Vanuatu.

A drone took a picture of Matthew Island's volcano.

The islands are important to Vanuatu because of their culture.

But culture is not why France wants the islands.

The islands are important because they give the owner control over a big area of the ocean.

This area is bigger than the United Kingdom.

With this control, the owner can decide what happens in the area.

If Vanuatu owned the islands, it would be very good for their economy.

But experts don't think France will give up the islands.

Political problems

The islands help France have the biggest exclusive economic zone in the world.

This means France can decide who can fish in the area.

A law professor says the islands are part of a bigger debate about France's control.

The islands are also a problem in France and New Caledonia.

Some leaders in New Caledonia support Vanuatu's claim to the islands.

This was in the news in Vanuatu.

New Caledonia's government stopped working with Vanuatu because of this.

A leader in New Caledonia supported Vanuatu's claim.

This became a problem between people who want independence and those who don't.

Not many people in France knew about the islands until recently.

Now, some people in France are talking about the islands.

The French embassy didn't want to comment.

Election deadline

France has elections in 2027. The problem needs to be solved before then.

A law professor thinks the best solution is for both countries to work together.

But this might be hard for France to accept.

Vanuatu might take the problem to the International Court of Justice.

Matthew Island is one of the islands in the dispute.

But a man from Vanuatu doesn't think the court needs to be involved.

He thinks the islands belong to Vanuatu because of their culture and history.

He hopes France will realize this someday.

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:20am

Thu 25 Jun 2026 at 5:59am

A man named Bruno Senges visited Matthew Island.

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