Christian Tein, the Kanak independence leader and president of the FLNKS, was released after a year of detention in France following the 2024 riots in New Caledonia. His release, confirmed by a French court, also included three other Kanak activists. The court found no justification for their continued detention, despite opposition from the public prosecutor. This development came amid ongoing political tensions in the French overseas territory. In July 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron convened a summit in Paris with loyalist and independence leaders to address the political deadlock and the future status of New Caledonia. After over ten days of negotiations, the parties signed a historic agreement establishing New Caledonia as a "State within the French Republic," granting it a new Caledonian nationality and a gradual transfer of certain sovereign powers. The accord stops short of full independence but allows New Caledonia to participate in international affairs and grants residents the option to retain French citizenship. The agreement marks an unprecedented status for the territory, aiming to resolve long-standing conflicts that have persisted for over 170 years under direct French rule.