Historical independence

History: Vanuatu

From the Anglo-French Condominium over the New Hebrides, through the 1977 Paris conference, to independence as Vanuatu in 1980 and UN admission in 1981.

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Pre-independence political movements

The New Hebrides National Party was founded in 1971 by Walter Lini, in competition with the French-aligned Union of New Hebrides Communities; renamed the Vanua'aku Pati in 1977, it won the 1975 and 1979 pre-independence elections, and Lini became chief minister in 1979.[1]

Independence

Following a 1977 conference in Paris and a 1979 constitution, the New Hebrides became independent as the Republic of Vanuatu on 30 July 1980, ending the Anglo-French Condominium in place since 1906, with Walter Lini as first Prime Minister.[2][1]

· Declaration

Independence of Vanuatu, 1980

The New Hebrides, jointly administered by the United Kingdom and France as an Anglo-French Condominium since 1906, became independent as the Republic of Vanuatu on 30 July 1980, following a 1977 Paris conference and a 1979 constitution.

From June 1980, Jimmy Stevens' Nagriamel movement led a secessionist uprising on Espiritu Santo, declaring the unrecognised "State of Vemerana"; Papua New Guinean troops suppressed it shortly after independence, and Stevens surrendered after his son was killed at a roadblock.[3]

· Conflict episode

Coconut War, 1980

Jimmy Stevens' Nagriamel movement led an uprising on Espiritu Santo from June 1980, declaring the unrecognised "State of Vemerana," which was suppressed by Papua New Guinean troops shortly after Vanuatu's independence.

United Nations membership

The Security Council recommended Vanuatu's UN membership on 8 July 1981, and the General Assembly admitted Vanuatu on 15 September 1981.[4][5]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: The New Hebrides National Party was founded on 17 August 1971 by Walter Lini, in competition with the French-aligned Union of New Hebrides Communities; it won the 1975 election, was renamed the Vanua'aku Pati in 1977, and won the pre-independence 1979 election, making Lini chief minister and, from Vanuatu's independence, its first Prime Minister.

  2. 2.

    Claim: The New Hebrides had been administered jointly by the United Kingdom and France as an Anglo-French Condominium since 1906. Independence was agreed at a 1977 conference in Paris attended by British, French and New Hebridean representatives; elections were held and a constitution was drawn up in 1979. Vanuatu's Constitution came into effect upon the country's independence on 30 July 1980, replacing the name New Hebrides.

  3. 3.

    Claim: From June 1980, Jimmy Stevens, head of the Nagriamel movement and backed by French-speaking landowners and the American Phoenix Foundation, led an uprising on Espiritu Santo declaring the unrecognised "State of Vemerana." Papua New Guinean troops suppressed the uprising shortly after Vanuatu's 30 July 1980 independence; the conflict ended after Stevens' son was killed at a roadblock, and Stevens surrendered shortly afterward.

  4. 4.

    Claim: On 8 July 1981, at its 2291st meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of the Republic of Vanuatu, unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that Vanuatu be admitted to UN membership.

    • United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 489 (1981) (United Nations, 8 July 1981) link, resolution text. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: The General Assembly, at its 1st plenary meeting on 15 September 1981, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Vanuatu's application, decided to admit the Republic of Vanuatu to United Nations membership.

    • United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 36/1: Admission of the Republic of Vanuatu to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 15 September 1981) link, operative paragraph. Source record

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Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/vanuatu/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.