France’s gradual and often hesitant process of reckoning with its colonial past has reached a new stage, with President Emmanuel Macron formally acknowledging French responsibility for violent repression in Cameroon. This admission covers a brutal period from 1945 to 1971, during which tens of thousands were killed in a war against independence movements.
In a letter to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, Macron accepted the conclusions of a joint historical commission. The commission found that France not only committed acts of violence during its colonial rule but also supported the repressive actions of Cameroon’s first post-independence government. This acknowledgment marks a departure from decades of French policy that largely ignored these events.
This strategic gesture is consistent with Macron’s approach to colonial history, which has involved other significant, though often criticized, actions. In 2018, his government initiated the return of 26 cultural artifacts to Benin, and it has recently signaled a willingness to discuss reparations with Niger for a colonial-era massacre. These moves are seen as an attempt to counter rising anti-French sentiment in Africa.
Despite the progress, critics point out that these acknowledgments consistently stop short of full apologies or commitments to financial reparations. Experts suggest the conversation must now evolve beyond symbolic acts to a more direct discussion of historical debt. The hope is that France’s admission will pave the way for the real work of reckoning, including educational reform and memorialization.
France’s Slow Reckoning: Cameroon Becomes Latest Focus of Colonial Past
