Macron admits to ‘violence’ during Cameroon independence “war”

According to France 24, August 13th, President Macron has acknowledged in a letter sent to Cameroonian President Paul Biya, that France waged a “war” that made use of great “repressive violence.”

The letter also acknowledges the long-term campaign of violence waged by France in the late 1950s during the decolonisation struggle, well into the early 1960s after Cameroon won its independence. The move marks the latest effort of France under Macron to reconcile its violent and bloody colonial history in an age of diplomacy and independence.

Macron went on to say “that it is incumbent on me today to accept France’s role and responsibility in these events.”

News of the letter comes during a wider state of France’s decline in Africa, with rising anti-French sentiment in countries like Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Senegal and Ivory Coast, which has already led many in the Sahel to reevaluate or cut their military ties to France completely. Acts of diplomacy, such as the commission, are therefore even more important to France’s grasp on influence in Africa more generally.

Recognition of the “war” is made in the wake of a report from a joint Cameroon-France official historical commission, to shed light on events prior to, and post-independence set up in 2022.

The commission had a wide scope of investigation, examining events between 1945 and 1971, gathering evidence from declassified archives, eyewitness accounts and field surveys.

According to the over 1000 page Franco-Cameroonian report given to the presidents of each country in January, Frances actions of repressive violence continued well after it gained independence, saying that they were “involved in actions taken by autocratic and authoritarian regime of Ahmadou Ahidjo,” which were condemned as leaving behind “tens of thousands of victims.”

President Biya said in January after the report’s conclusion that “This is a work of collective healing that can bring people to better accept, and to embrace the relationship between our two nations.”

The commission is set to continue its research into France’s colonial period, however, even with Macron’s acknowledgement of his country’s past transgressions, there was no mention of reparations.

France 24, Maghrebi.org