“My nephew and my niece were shot in the head”: Christian Karembeu in mourning following the riots in New Caledonia

Christian Karembeu a perdu son neveu et sa nièce dans les émeutes en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Mike Egerton – MAXPPP

L’ancien footballeur international français, Christian Karembeu, est revenu les violents affrontements qui ont émaillé la Nouvelle-Calédonie ces dernières semaines. Il s’est confié sur le drame qui touche sa propre famille, après la perte de son neveu et de sa nièce.

The situation in New Caledonia is still very tense despite the announcement by the Élysée of the lifting of the state of emergency established on May 15, this Tuesday, May 28. May 2024 at 5 a.m. (i.e. 8 p.m. Monday in Paris).

This Monday, May 27, 2024, the former French international footballer, Christian Karembeu, born in New Caledonia, returned to the drama that affected his own family during this conflict, on Europe 1, at the microphone of Jacques Vendroux.

"I'm in mourning"

"I lost family members, that's why I stayed silent. Because I'm grieving. Two people in my family were shot in the head. The word is strong but these are assassinations and we hope that there will be inquiries and investigations into these murders", he shared.

The former footballer lost his nephew and his niece, from the Emma tribe and who were originally from Canala, specifies Europe 1.

Nouvelle-Calédonie : "Deux membres de ma famille sont morts, ce sont des snipers" témoigne Christian @Karembeu qui était l'invité du Studio des Légendes avec @JacquesVendroux sur #Europe1 pic.twitter.com/3hLk73mANI

— Europe 1 (@Europe1) May 27, 2024

"We cannot kill with impunity"

The former Blues player then shared his opinion on the substance of the conflict. "Normally the referendum must be held every two years and recently, Paris decided to do it in 2021 instead of 2022. So there were abstentions and the fact of being able to enact this law led to this difficult reaction which I also condemn", expressed Christian Karembeu. "In both directions, we cannot kill people with impunity", he stressed.

"We have to talk"

Seven people, including two gendarmes, have lost their lives since the start of the clashes in New Caledonia.

"When ideas are submitted by the State, I think that it is necessary to discuss, palaver, so that the law can be digested and share what is good for the country and for the communities", concluded Christian Karembeu on Europe 1.