France's president, Emmanuel Macron, publicly admits to the brutal history of French colonization in Cameroon.
France Acknowledges Role in Repressive Violence During Cameroon's Independence Struggle
In a significant admission, French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged France's role in the repressive violence that marked Cameroon's struggle for independence in the 1950s. The revelation comes from a letter sent to Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya last month, and it follows an official report commissioned by France in 2022.
The report, compiled by a 14-person committee of French and Cameroonian historians, found that France's repressive measures during Cameroon's independence struggle cost "tens of thousands of lives." The French army carried out repressive violence of several kinds, which continued after Cameroon gained independence on January 1, 1960.
The report details how France waged a violent war in Cameroon to crush independence efforts. The Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC), a left-wing party leading the struggle, was banned, and forces backed by France engaged in killing and repression, fueling a long guerrilla war. After independence, France continued its influence by supporting a repressive government aligned with French interests. The violence and repression lasted from about 1945 through 1971.
Key findings of the report include the use of mass forced displacement, internment camps, and the support of militias known for their brutality in Cameroon. The French army's repressive measures extended into the post-independence period, with France backing the authoritarian regime of Ahmadou Ahidjo and state repression until around 1971.
Macron accepted France's role and responsibility in these events, stating that historians found deliberate repressive violence by colonial authorities and the French army both before and after independence. However, he stopped short of issuing an official apology and instead pledged to open and declassify French archives related to these events.
This admission represents a significant step in confronting France's colonial history in Cameroon. It comes at a time when France's current presence in its former African colonies has become increasingly contested. The letter was made public by Macron's office on Tuesday.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time France has been accused of repressive actions during its colonial history. A report from 2020 looked into France's role during Algeria's war of independence and called for a "truth commission" and other measures. Emmanuel Macron has ruled out officially apologizing for the abuses carried out by French soldiers in Algeria.
The report on Cameroon is part of Emmanuel Macron's push for France to confront its colonial history. The admission of France's role in the death of Cameroonian leaders Ruben Um Nyobe, Paul Momo, Isaac Nyobe Pandjock, and Jeremie Ndelene, all of whom were killed between 1958 and 1960 in French-commanded military operations, is particularly noteworthy.
Most parts of Cameroon were colonized by France after World War I, with the rest being colonized by Britain. The admission follows a 2021 report that found that France bore overwhelming responsibilities in the Rwandan genocide. The reports and Macron’s acknowledgment are significant steps in addressing France's colonial past and its impact on the people of Africa.
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