France acknowledges excesses in Cameroon’s independence war.

The letter followed the completion of the Franco-Cameroonian Joint Commission’s work on France’s involvement in Cameroon’s anti-independence wars from 1945 to 1971.

According to Emmanuel Macron, the Commission of historians, which submitted its report in January 2025, highlighted the extent of violence committed during what he termed a war in Cameroon. 

The conflict, he noted, extended beyond the formal independence of 1960, with France continuing to support the actions of Cameroon’s new authorities against nationalist movements.

The French president acknowledged France’s direct involvement in several controversial episodes, including the bloody crackdown in Ekité on December 31, 1956, and the deaths of key independence leaders, among them were Isaac Nyobè Pandjock, Ruben Um Nyobè, Paul Momo, and Jérémie Ndéléné, all killed during military operations conducted under French command.

“These events impose upon me the responsibility of France,” Macron wrote, adding that his administration was committed to advancing truth and reconciliation between both nations.

The French President in his letter also touched on the assassination of Félix-Roland Moumié in Geneva in 1960, a case widely attributed to French intelligence.

Macron noted that the absence of sufficient archival evidence and the Swiss judiciary’s 1980 ruling of non-suit meant the Commission could not shed new light on the affair.

Says Commission shed light on forgotten episodes

According to Macron, beyond these prominent cases, the Commission should be praised for re-examining lesser-known but equally significant events, such as the deadly Douala riots of September 1945. 

He expressed hope that further comparative research would help situate the events within the broader history of decolonisation struggles across Africa.

“The quest for historical truth initiated by the Commission must continue,” Macron insisted.

Macron announced that French archives related to the Commission’s work would be centralised at the National Archives of France, with a digital guide created to facilitate access for researchers.

Insists education, research & culture at heart of reconciliation

For Macron, the acknowledgment of France’s colonial past in Cameroon is not only about recognition but also about education of the future generations. 

He highlighted the role of higher education and research as shared priority between both countries, stressing the need to mobilise universities, teachers, and students in disseminating the Commission’s findings.

“The France-Cameroon partnership must enrich educational resources, support scientific research, and anchor this memory in our academic dialogue,” he said.

He also suggested strengthening cultural initiatives to foster a shared memory through the arts. 

According to him, artistic expression could play a very important role in reconciling memories and promoting collective healing.

Suggests constitutional framework for follow-up

To ensure that the Commission’s recommendations translate into concrete action, Macron proposed the establishment of a joint Franco-Cameroonian working group to meet annually and assess progress while also maintain informal but regular dialogue between the two governments.

He insisted that the ultimate goal of the commission was not only to confront the past but also to build a future of closer ties between the two countries, particularly among their youth.

“These works, and all that they will inspire after them, will allow us to continue building our future together,” Macron affirmed.

His letter, it should be said, follows years of hard research work carried out by renowned historians, activists, and Cameroonian civil society for France.

Recall that during his 2022 visit to Yaounde, Macron and Biya jointly called for a transparent reckoning with history, which later laid groundwork for a Joint Commission to be put in place. 

The July 30 letter now positions France as ready to move beyond symbolic gestures toward institutional cooperation in education, culture, and research.

The Memory Commission, it should be said, was co-chaired by historian, Karine Ramondi, and artiste, Blick Bassy, as well as 12 other members who were selected, beyond their nationalities, by virtue of their quality, free mindedness and passion for research in history.

After of two years of research, the commission on January 21, 2025, handed over copies of their findings to Emmanuel Macron during a ceremony at the Elysée Palace in Paris. 

A similar ceremony took place at the Unity Palace in Cameroon, on January 28, 2025, when the Commission handed over copies of their findings to Paul Biya.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3538 of Tuesday August 19, 2025