French President Emmanuel Macron has formally assumed “responsibility” for France’s role in a brutal war against Cameroonian independence activists, but his carefully worded statement did not include an apology. The admission came in a letter to Cameroonian President Paul Biya, following a joint historical commission’s report on the colonial period.
The commission’s findings were stark, establishing that French forces engaged in violent repression from 1945 onwards. This support for state-sponsored violence continued after Cameroon’s 1960 independence, backing the government of Ahmadou Ahidjo, under whom Biya himself served as prime minister. The conflict claimed tens of thousands of lives and saw the elimination of key nationalist figures.
This acknowledgment is part of a pattern under Macron, who seems more willing than his predecessors to confront France’s colonial past, at least rhetorically. Former President François Hollande had previously mentioned “tragic episodes,” but Macron’s statement goes further in accepting direct responsibility. This shift occurs as France’s influence in its former African colonies is increasingly challenged.
The conversation is now expected to turn towards what comes next. Without an apology or reparations, critics view the gesture as largely symbolic. For advocates like Blick Bassy, the work has just begun. He argues for national mourning in Cameroon and a commitment from France to integrate this dark chapter into its national curriculum, fostering a deeper understanding of its colonial exploits.
Macron Admits French “Responsibility” for Cameroon War, Sidesteps Apology
