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.
