France-Cameroon Memorial Committee Present Report to President Paul BIYA

January 2025

Members of the multidisciplinary Franco-Cameroonian Joint Commission on France’s role and commitment against independence and opposition movements in Cameroon from 1945 to 1971 have presented the report of the two-year research to the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA.

French historian Karine Ramondy, co-chair of the memorial commission, solemnly handed over the scientific report to the Head of State in a ceremony organised at Unity Palace on 28 January 2025.

President Emmanuel MACRON received a copy of the findings on 21 January 2025 at the Elysee Palace.

Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships represented the French Head of State at Unity Palace.

President Paul BIYA hailed the courage and tenacity of the 14-man group of researchers for the monumental accomplishment, which will act as a collective therapy for the growth of the longstanding and friendly ties between Yaounde and Paris.

 

Read President Paul BIYA’s Speech

Joint Communique (pdf)

What Will Be The Legacy Of The France-Cameroon Commission?

Macron announced the creation of the commission in July 2022, at a joint press conference with Cameroon’s long-time President Paul Biya, a move seen as part of Macron’s promises to deal with France’s colonial past. The commission was co-chaired by French historian Karine Ramondy and Cameroonian musician Blick Bassy, who dedicated one of his albums, “1958”, to assassinated anti-colonialist leader Ruben Um Nyobè. Bassy was in charge of the cultural aspect of the commission’s work. The “research” commission was composed of seven French and seven Cameroonian historians, of whom five are women and nine men.

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