Baku Initiative Group: French Polynesia declares sovereignty over its natural resources
The Assembly of French Polynesia (Maohi) has unanimously passed a historic resolution declaring permanent sovereignty over all of the country's natural resources.
Operativ Media reports that this was announced by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG).
According to the statement, the historic document officially safeguards the inalienable rights of the indigenous people across their land and maritime territories, as well as their vast 5.5-million-square-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Achieved through years of political struggle by the Tavini Huiraatira movement, this victory represents the biggest step yet toward the region's economic and political independence.
BIG highlighted that the resolution includes strategic provisions establishing the rights of the Polynesian people and creating a strong legal framework for the French Polynesia delegation to defend its resources at the UN General Assembly. Under the document, the people's right to own, control, and manage all natural resources on their lands, lagoons, airspace, seabed, and oceanic territory is reaffirmed. Full sovereignty is declared over seabed minerals, metals, and biological resources within the region's EEZ, rejecting the French state's claims to unilaterally exploit these resources. The resolution highlights the severe environmental and public health damage caused by France's nuclear testing in the region from 1966 to 1996, demanding fair compensation from Paris. It also directly calls on France, as the administering power, to cooperate with international missions in accordance with UN resolutions regarding the region's independence process.
The Initiative Group noted that the initiative to adopt the resolution belongs to Oscar Manutahi Temaru, leader of the Tavini Huiraatira movement and former president of French Polynesia.
"He submitted the relevant draft resolution to the Assembly of French Polynesia on December 3, 2025. On December 5, the draft was discussed in the Assembly's Committee on Institutional, International Affairs and Relations with Municipalities, winning the support of the majority of members. The rapporteurs of the document were Tevaipaea Hoiore and Allen Salmon.
Expressing gratitude to all deputies who supported the resolution, Tavini Huiraatira praised the consensus achieved among political forces, noting that the ocean and its resources are the historical heritage and future of the Maohi people. The right to make decisions regarding these resources should belong solely to this people," the statement added.
BIG recalled that it consistently supports the international defense of the Maohi people's right to self-determination and sovereignty over their natural resources. In cooperation with the Tavini Huiraatira movement, BIG has contributed to raising these issues on international platforms, including within the UN framework.
