Latest news with #repressiveviolence
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Macron acknowledges French colonial repression in Camaeroon
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron admitted his country used "repressive violence" in Cameroon during the 1950s, as the West African nation fought for its independence. In a letter sent to Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya last month, Macron acknowledged the actions of French colonial troops. The letter was made public by Macron's office on Tuesday, and comes at a time when France's current presence in its former African colonies has become increasingly contested. This comes following an official report, commissioned by France in 2022, which found that France used mass forced displacement, pushed scores of Cameroonians into internment camps and supported militias known for their brutality, all with the purpose of battling the country's aspiration for independence. The report was compiled by a 14-person committee made of French and Cameroonian historians who looked at France's role in Cameroon between 1945 and 1971, noting that the French army's repressive measures continued after the country's independence in 1960. "The historians of the commission made it very clear that there was a war in Cameroon, during which the colonial authorities and the French army carried out repressive violence of several kinds that continued after 1960," Macron said in the letter. "It is incumbent on me today to accept France's role and responsibility in these events." The French president also acknowledged France's role in the death of Cameroonian leaders Ruben Um Nyobe, Paul Momo, Isaac Nyobe Pandjock and Jeremie Ndelene, all of whom were killed between 1958 and 1960 in French-commanded military operations. France's repressive measures in the fight against Cameroon's independence cost "tens of thousands of lives," Macron said. Most parts of Cameroon came under French rule in World War I, after the country's previous colonial ruler, Germany, suffered a defeat in the war. The rest of the country was colonised by Britain. Cameroon started pushing for independence during World War II, with France reacting with repression and violence, the report said. The report is part of Macron's push for France to come to terms with its own colonial history, even though many argue his moves do not go far enough. A report released in 2021 found that France bore "overwhelming responsibilities" in the Rwandan genocide that took place in 1994, while a 2020 report looked in to France's role during Algeria's war of independence, ending up calling for a "truth commission" and other measures.
Russia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
France admits waging ‘war' in African state during decolonization
President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged France's responsibility for 'repressive violence' during and after Cameroon's independence struggle in an official letter to his Cameroonian counterpart, Paul Biya. The letter stops short of apologizing for atrocities committed by French troops in the Central African country. The move followed a report released in January by a joint French-Cameroonian commission of historians that examined France's suppression of independence movements from 1945 to 1971. Macron, in the letter dated July 30 and made public on Tuesday, said the commission's report 'clearly highlighted that a war had taken place in Cameroon, during which the colonial authorities and the French army carried out multiple forms of repressive violence.' '[The] war…continued beyond 1960 with France's support for actions carried out by the independent Cameroonian authorities,' he wrote. The president also accepted Paris' responsibility for the deaths of four pro-independence leaders, Isaac Nyobe Pandjock, Ruben Um Nyobe, Paul Momo, and Jeremie Ndelene, killed between 1958 and 1960 in military operations under French command. 'It is up to me today to assume the role and responsibility of France in these events,' he stated. The African country's armed struggle for independence erupted in the 1950s, led by the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon, which sought to end French rule and unite territories under British administration. Cameroon had been a German colony until World War I, when it was split between France and Britain, with the French-controlled area gaining independence in 1960 and the southern British Cameroons joining a year later. In the letter, Macron pledged to open France's archives, support further historical research, and establish a joint working group to implement the recommendations of the commission, which was launched in 2022 to address historic grievances and promote reconciliation. In recent years, Paris has sought to confront its colonial-era abuses in Africa amid tense relations with former colonies. Macron has previously recognized France's role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the 1945 massacre of tens of thousands of Algerians in Setif.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Macron admits France's repressive violence in Cameroon's war for independence
DAKAR, Senegal — French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that France waged a war marked by 'repressive violence' in Cameroon before and after the country's independence in 1960 in a letter made public Tuesday. It is France's first official acknowledgment of its repression of Cameroon's independence movement as a war. The letter sent last month to Cameroonian President Paul Biya, follows a report released in January by a French-Cameroonian commission of historians. The report revealed that France carried out mass forced displacements, detained hundreds of thousands of Cameroonians in internment camps, and backed brutal militias to suppress the country's fight for independence and sovereignty between 1945 and 1971. The commission was established by Macron during a 2022 visit to the capital Yaoundé. It examined France's role leading up to Cameroon's independence on Jan. 1, 1960, and in the years that followed. 'At the end of their work, the historians of the Commission clearly highlighted that a war had taken place in Cameroon, during which the colonial authorities and the French army carried out multiple forms of repressive violence in certain regions of the country — a war that continued beyond 1960 with France's support for actions carried out by the independent Cameroonian authorities,' the letter from Macron read. Macron also acknowledged France's role in the deaths of independence leaders Ruben Um Nyobè, Paul Momo, Isaac Nyobè Pandjock and Jérémie Ndéléné, who were killed between 1958 and 1960 in military operations under French command. Cameroon was a German colony until the end of World War I, when it was divided between Britain and France. The French-administered territory gained independence in 1960, and the southern British Cameroons joined in a federation the next year. The independence war began in the 1950s when the nationalist UPC launched an armed struggle for full sovereignty and reunification. Even after independence, the French-backed government continued to fight the UPC for years, The letter follows earlier moves by Macron to address France's colonial past, including his recognition of French responsibility in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the massacre of Senegalese riflemen after World War II. However, the French president has so far ruled out an official apology for torture and other abuses committed by French troops in Algeria. The letter comes at a time when France's presence in its former colonies in Africa has become increasingly contested, particularly in the Sahel region. Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report. Mark Banchereau, The Associated Press
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Macron admits France's repressive violence in Cameroon's war for independence
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that France waged a war marked by 'repressive violence' in Cameroon before and after the country's independence in 1960 in a letter made public Tuesday. It is France's first official acknowledgment of its repression of Cameroon's independence movement as a war. The letter sent last month to Cameroonian President Paul Biya, follows a report released in January by a French-Cameroonian commission of historians. The report revealed that France carried out mass forced displacements, detained hundreds of thousands of Cameroonians in internment camps, and backed brutal militias to suppress the country's fight for independence and sovereignty between 1945 and 1971. The commission was established by Macron during a 2022 visit to the capital Yaoundé. It examined France's role leading up to Cameroon's independence on Jan. 1, 1960, and in the years that followed. 'At the end of their work, the historians of the Commission clearly highlighted that a war had taken place in Cameroon, during which the colonial authorities and the French army carried out multiple forms of repressive violence in certain regions of the country — a war that continued beyond 1960 with France's support for actions carried out by the independent Cameroonian authorities,' the letter from Macron read. Macron also acknowledged France's role in the deaths of independence leaders Ruben Um Nyobè, Paul Momo, Isaac Nyobè Pandjock and Jérémie Ndéléné, who were killed between 1958 and 1960 in military operations under French command. Cameroon was a German colony until the end of World War I, when it was divided between Britain and France. The French-administered territory gained independence in 1960, and the southern British Cameroons joined in a federation the next year. The independence war began in the 1950s when the nationalist UPC launched an armed struggle for full sovereignty and reunification. Even after independence, the French-backed government continued to fight the UPC for years, The letter follows earlier moves by Macron to address France's colonial past, including his recognition of French responsibility in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the massacre of Senegalese riflemen after World War II. However, the French president has so far ruled out an official apology for torture and other abuses committed by French troops in Algeria. The letter comes at a time when France's presence in its former colonies in Africa has become increasingly contested, particularly in the Sahel region. ___ Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Macron admits France's repressive violence in Cameroon's war for independence
DAKAR, Senegal — French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that France waged a war marked by 'repressive violence' in Cameroon before and after the country's independence in 1960 in a letter made public Tuesday. It is France's first official acknowledgment of its repression of Cameroon's independence movement as a war. The letter sent last month to Cameroonian President Paul Biya , follows a report released in January by a French-Cameroonian commission of historians. The report revealed that France carried out mass forced displacements, detained hundreds of thousands of Cameroonians in internment camps, and backed brutal militias to suppress the country's fight for independence and sovereignty between 1945 and 1971. The commission was established by Macron during a 2022 visit to the capital Yaoundé. It examined France's role leading up to Cameroon's independence on Jan. 1, 1960, and in the years that followed. 'At the end of their work, the historians of the Commission clearly highlighted that a war had taken place in Cameroon, during which the colonial authorities and the French army carried out multiple forms of repressive violence in certain regions of the country — a war that continued beyond 1960 with France's support for actions carried out by the independent Cameroonian authorities,' the letter from Macron read. Macron also acknowledged France's role in the deaths of independence leaders Ruben Um Nyobè, Paul Momo, Isaac Nyobè Pandjock and Jérémie Ndéléné, who were killed between 1958 and 1960 in military operations under French command. Cameroon was a German colony until the end of World War I, when it was divided between Britain and France. The French-administered territory gained independence in 1960, and the southern British Cameroons joined in a federation the next year. The independence war began in the 1950s when the nationalist UPC launched an armed struggle for full sovereignty and reunification. Even after independence, the French-backed government continued to fight the UPC for years, The letter follows earlier moves by Macron to address France's colonial past, including his recognition of French responsibility in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the massacre of Senegalese riflemen after World War II . However, the French president has so far ruled out an official apology for torture and other abuses committed by French troops in Algeria. The letter comes at a time when France's presence in its former colonies in Africa has become increasingly contested , particularly in the Sahel region. ___ Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.
