As coronavirus cases escalate in France, in the tiny French territory of New Caledonia, the pandemic has taken a back seat to concerns around its upcoming referendum on independence, reports ABC News.
This Sunday, more than 180,000 voters will cast their ballot to find out whether New Caledonia will stick with France or become its own independent state.
They will be asked to vote Yes or No to the question: "Do you want New Caledonia to accede to full sovereignty and become independent?"
It's the second time in two years that New Caledonia will hold an independence referendum—back in 2018, the territory narrowly decided to stay with France.
But an aggressive 2020 campaign fought by both the pro-independence and pro-French blocs has left some fearing further disharmony, no matter which side wins this weekend.
Many of New Caledonia's Indigenous Kanak voters see Sunday's vote as a referendum on their right to govern their land.