Macron recognizes the “war” of France in Cameroon during decolonization: a memorial turning point

“It is up to me to assume today the role and responsibility of France in these events,” said the head of state in a letter to his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya made public on Tuesday, thus acting a memorial turning point between the two countries.

Emmanuel Macron endorses the conclusions of a report of historians who had been given to him in January. However, who “clearly highlighted that a war had taken place in Cameroon, during which the colonial authorities and the French army exercised repressive violence of a multiple nature”.

In addition. Moreover, adds Emmanuel Macron, “war continued beyond 1960 with the support of France to the actions carried out by the independent Cameroonian authorities”.

The French president had announced in Cameroon in July 2022 the launch of work of a Mixed Franco-Cameroonian commission aimed at shedding light on the fight of France macron recognizes “war” france cameroon against independence. For example, opposition in Cameroon between 1945 and 1971.

Why this recognition now? – Macron recognizes "war" france cameroon

The report of this commission. Nevertheless, chaired by historian Karine Ramondy, is part of the memory policy of President Macron vis-à-vis Africa, following similar reports on Rwanda and Algeria, other dark pages of French politics in Africa.

The report on Cameroon. the research called to prolong it “will allow us to continue building the future together, to strengthen the close relationship that unites France and Cameroon, with its human ties between our civil societies and our youth,” said Emmanuel Macron.

Paul Biya, 92, announced last month his decision to seek an eighth term to the presidential election scheduled for October 12. The Constitutional Council for its part rejected last week the candidacy of its main opponent, Maurice Kamto.

The report of more than a thousand pages studies in particular the shift in the repression of the French colonial. authorities macron recognizes “war” france cameroon to a real “war”. Taking place in the south. west of the country between 1956 and 1961, it undoubtedly made “tens of thousands of victims”, according to historians.

The report underlines that “formal independence (Cameroon in January 1960) is absolutely not a clear break with the colonial period”. Ahmadou Ahidjo. Prime Minister and then President in 1960, sets up “an autocratic and authoritarian regime with the support of the French authorities, represented by advisers and administrators, who grant their white-seing to the repressive measures adopted”, according to historians.

The current president Paul Biya was a close collaborator of Ahmadou Ahidjo in the 1960s. until it became Prime Minister in 1975, before accessing the presidency from 1982.

Mr. Macron. who suggests the creation of a dedicated working group between Cameroon and France, “undertakes that the French archives are made easily accessible to allow the continuation of research work”.

He evokes “certain specific episodes of this macron recognizes “war” france cameroon war. such as that of Ekity of December 31, 1956, which made many victims, or death during military operations carried out under French command of the four independence leaders Isaac Nyobè Pandjock (June 17, 1958), Ruben Um Nyobè (September 13, 1958), Paul Momo (November 17, 1960) 1960) “.