French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged France’s use of “repressive violence” in Cameroon during the 1950s, as the West African nation fought for its independence. The admission comes amid a growing scrutiny of France’s colonial legacy and its ongoing presence in former African colonies.
A letter sent by Macron to Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya last month revealed that French colonial troops used mass forced displacement, internment camps, and supported militias known for their brutality to suppress Cameroon’s independence movement. The actions continued after independence in 1960.
Macron acknowledged the deaths of several Cameroonian leaders, including Ruben Um Nyobe, who was killed in a French-commanded military operation between 1958 and 1960. He estimated that France’s repressive measures cost “tens of thousands of lives.”
The admission comes as Macron seeks to address his country’s colonial past. In recent years, reports have highlighted France’s role in the Rwandan genocide and Algeria’s war of independence. A report commissioned by France in 2022 found that the country used repressive violence, mass displacement, and supported militias in Cameroon between 1945 and 1971.
The French president has come under criticism for not apologizing for the abuses carried out by French soldiers in Algeria. Despite this, Macron’s admission marks a step towards acknowledging France’s role in Cameroon’s struggle for independence.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/macron-acknowledges-french-colonial-repression-in-cameroon/a-73617675