Violence has rocked New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific, since a proposed electoral reform bill sparked protests and riots last week.

The death toll has risen to seven, with reports of a deadly altercation between a police officer and a civilian.

France has declared a state of emergency and sent additional troops to quell the unrest.

The unrest stems from a contentious bill that proposes changes to who can vote in local elections. Current restrictions, established as part of the Nouméa Accord decolonization process, exclude up to one-fifth of the population from voting.

While recent independence referendums in New Caledonia failed, pro-independence groups argue the process isn't finished. The proposed reform, which would allow more people of European and Polynesian descent to vote, is seen as a dilution of the indigenous Kanak people's political power.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the territory and met with local representatives. He expressed a willingness to lift the state of emergency if roadblocks are removed and pledged to initiate talks for a comprehensive political deal on the future of New Caledonia, focusing on both its institutional and economic development. (ILKHA)