OUVÉA — 1988 · Major Tragedy
Ouvéa Cave Hostage Crisis
On 22 April 1988, on the island of Ouvéa in French-ruled New Caledonia, pro-independence FLNKS militants attacked a gendarmerie post; four gendarmes were killed and 27 were taken hostage and held in a cave near Gossanah. The militants demanded negotiations on independence. On 4–5 May 1988 French special forces stormed the cave; the hostages were freed, while 19 militants and 2 soldiers were killed. Some officers who took part later alleged that militants who had surrendered were mistreated; the authorities rejected claims of summary executions. The crisis accelerated the path to the Matignon Accords signed the same year.
- Date
- 1988
- Place
- Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, Ouvéa, NC
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- -20.5500, 166.5600 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 22 April 1988Attack on a gendarmerie post; 4 gendarmes killed, 27 taken hostage.
- 5 May 1988The cave was stormed; 19 militants and 2 soldiers died.
- June 1988The Matignon Accords were signed.
- After 1988Allegations about treatment during the assault continued to be debated.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Ouvéa cave hostage taking en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Asia Pacific Report — Blood in the Pacific: 30 years on from the Ouvéa Island cave massacre asiapacificreport.nz ↗
- Inside Story — Ouvea looks forward, and back insidestory.org.au ↗
- Wikipedia
- Asia Pacific Report
- Inside Story
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.