France responsible for brutal repression in Cameroon: report

A newly released official report has concluded that France waged a war marked by “extreme violence” during Cameroon’s struggle for independence in the late 1950s.

The report, commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron, details how French authorities employed mass forced displacement, established internment camps, and supported brutal militias to suppress the Cameroonian independence movement.

The 14-member historical commission, comprised of both French and Cameroonian historians, examined France’s role in Cameroon between 1945 and 1971.

The report found that the French suppression of the independence movement resulted in “tens of thousands of deaths” and displaced hundreds of thousands of Cameroonians.

While France has acknowledged its colonial past in other contexts, this report provides a more detailed and critical examination of its actions in Cameroon.

This report comes as France seeks to re-evaluate its relationship with its former African colonies, many of which are now reassessing their ties with Paris.

The report underscores the need for further research and open dialogue to address the historical legacies of colonialism and pave the way for a more equitable and respectful relationship between France and its former colonies.

Scroll to Top