Macron Admits to French Repression in Cameroon’s Independence Struggle

French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged France’s violent repression during Cameroon’s independence struggle but stopped short of issuing an apology or offering reparations.

French President Emmanuel Macron has formally acknowledged that French forces engaged in violent repression in Cameroon during and after its fight for independence, following the release of a joint report by Cameroonian and French historians spanning the years 1945 to 1971.

In a letter addressed to Cameroonian President Paul Biya, Macron admitted that colonial authorities and the French army carried out severe crackdowns that led to tens of thousands of deaths and the killing of prominent independence leaders. The admission marks one of the most direct recognitions by a French head of state of the brutality associated with France’s colonial legacy in Africa.

The report, compiled by a team of historians from both countries, documented widespread violence, arbitrary arrests, and targeted assassinations during the suppression of nationalist movements. While Macron accepted France’s historic responsibility, he notably refrained from issuing a formal apology or offering reparations.

Historians involved in the project clarified that their mandate was to uncover and present factual evidence, rather than make recommendations on reparations or political redress. Macron, however, expressed a willingness to cooperate with Cameroon in ensuring the report’s findings are made publicly accessible to researchers and the wider public.

The revelation has sparked mixed reactions in Cameroon. Some view Macron’s acknowledgment as an important step towards truth-telling and historical justice, while others argue that without a formal apology or material reparations, the gesture remains incomplete.

Cameroon’s independence struggle, marked by fierce resistance against colonial rule, has long been a sensitive chapter in Franco-Cameroonian relations, with many survivors and descendants of victims calling for full recognition and compensation.

Observers note that the admission comes amid a broader reckoning in France over its colonial past, with similar debates taking place regarding Algeria, Madagascar, and other former territories.

Whether this latest move will lead to a deeper process of reconciliation remains uncertain, but the release of the report and Macron’s acknowledgment have reopened long-suppressed conversations about France’s role in Africa’s decolonisation.