At reception of France-Cameroon Memory report: Biya says work first step in quest for truth, new perspectives.

He was speaking Tuesday, January 28, at the Unity Palace in Yaounde. This was while receiving the 1000-page report from the 14-member commission.

In attendance were; France’s Minister Delegate in charge of La Francophonie and International Partnerships, Thani Mohamed Soilihi. Thani represented French President, Emmanuel Macron, at the event.

In his speech, Biya said he and Macron took the decision to allow for research into the battles for independence and France’s role to end the taboos surrounding the subject matter.

The Head of State described the report as a collective therapy that will make it easy to establish responsibility. The President reiterated that the work is needed to shape discussions and further research going forward.

“Your work must be construed as a necessary first step that opens avenues for further research in the quest for truth,” he said, adding that the work will benefit generations yet unborn.

Proposes honouring heroes, adjusting curricular 

With the research, the Head of State said memory sites could be designated to honour the heroes of independence in addition to adjusting the curricular of both France and Cameroon plus setting up a monitoring committee for better follow up.

Biya quoted his observation in his book, Communal Liberalism, in 1987, on the huge sacrifices citizens made to fight for independence. The fierce battles, he said, were powered by love for fatherland.

The President said he knows that “…many of my compatriots recount the stories of the 1945 to 1971 period of the history of Cameroon with much concealed emotion, sadness and fear”.

He saluted the co-chairpersons of the Memory Commission viz; French historian, Karine Ramondi, and artiste of Cameroonian origin, Blick Bassy, and other members of the team. 

The Head of State reminded the Commission that what they have done is symbolic and restores the authenticity of facts and accounts, to reveal the truth. 

French historian on details 

The co-chairperson of the Commission, French historian, Karine Ramondi, said the 1000-page document tells the story of the different protagonist of the colonial battles for independence.

The report, she said, will be available online for free exploitation. Ramondi also said an English version of the report will be release in the months ahead given the bilingual nature of Cameroon.

Enter French President’s representative

The Minister Delegate in charge of La Francophonie and International Partnerships, Thani Mohamed Soilihi, said the report is a work of truth. He intimated that it tells the story of happenings of over 50 years in the quest for independence.

Thani remarked that the work “…must be up to the new generation to build our partner's future on a serene and shared basis”. He also hailed the members of the Commission.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3354 of Thursday January 30, 2025