Voters in the South Pacific French territory of New Caledonia have been taking part in a referendum to decide if they want the islands to become independent.
The poll was organised with the support of Paris and is the latest development in a three-decade-long process of decolonisation that has at times resulted in violence.
It's the first vote on self-determination in French territory to be held since Djibouti in the Horn of Africa voted in favour of independence in 1977.
During a visit to the archipelago in May, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the "pains of colonisation" and saluted the "dignified" campaign for autonomy led by the indigenous Kanaks.
He and his administration have sought to strike a neutral tone on the vote.
Voters have been asked the question "Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?"
A "yes" vote would not only dent the pride of France, once a colonial power whose reach spanned the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Ocean, it would deprive Paris of a foothold in the Indo-Pacific region where is expanding its presence.
Despite lying over sixteen thousand kilometres away off the coast of eastern Australia, French nationalism is strong among the island population of 268,000.
But the Kanak people are mainly pro-independent, and turn-out is expected to be high. Nevertheless, early indications are that the islands will stay with France, which subsidises New Caledonia's economy to the tune of 1.5 billion euros a year.
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