French Foreign Minister calls out Azerbaijan’s ‘provocative’ actions in New Caledonia

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticised the ‘provocative’ actions of an ‘Azerbaijani group organising conferences in [the New Caledonian capital] Nouméa calling for revolt in the overseas territories’. While he did not mention the name, he was referring to the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), a nominally independent organisation focused on anti-colonial activism.

The BIG describes its focus as being ‘dedicated to supporting the struggle of peoples suffering from colonialism and neocolonialism, freedom, independence, and equal rights including the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities suppressed by governing authorities’. The bulk of the BIG’s activities are directed at France, with all other conferences focused on allies of Armenia, leading to criticism that the organisation is a geopolitical tool rather than an earnest anti-colonial advocacy group.

In the speech on Tuesday, Barrot warned that autocratic countries and their authoritarian-minded ilk are trying to ‘polarise public debate’ as part of their wider war against democracy.

Along with the ‘Azerbaijani group’, Barrot mentioned ‘an Israeli firm creating fake French accounts to stage artificial clashes over the Palestinian issue’ and ‘mass online harassment campaigns by Elon Musk’.

It is not the first time France has taken issue with Azerbaijan’s self-declared anti-colonial activities targeted at its own overseas territories. In 2024, France accused Azerbaijan of helping foment deadly unrest in New Caledonia, which Baku later denied.

In response to Barrot’s latest speech, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry again rejected it was doing anything untoward.

‘Accusations that Azerbaijan interferes in the struggle of the peoples living in New Caledonia and other French overseas territories for their rights are entirely unfounded’, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said on Wednesday.

‘It would be more appropriate for French officials, when speaking about democracy, human rights and the rule of law, to focus first and foremost on the consistent application of these principles in France’s own policies’.

Hajizada reiterated that Baku was calling on ‘the French side to put an end to unfounded allegations against Azerbaijan and to uphold the principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs in international relations’.

Later, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Sophie Lagoutte responded in kind.

Apparently undeterred, the BIG has since continued to agitate for decolonial policies in New Caledonia and other French overseas territories.

These statements have included explicit calls from activists of the indigenous Kanak people of New Caledonia that ‘we cannot allow France to continue its colonial policy’ in the territory.