The history of Cameroon during the period of repression against nationalists and the involvement of France continues to attract interest and be the subject of extensive research. Indeed, more than six months after the establishment of the memory commission on the role of France, the members of this commission recently made a trip to Yaoundé to continue their research and discussions.
The journey began in Dschang, a town in western Cameroon that played a key role during this troubled period in history. The repression against Cameroonian nationalists had been particularly fierce there, and it was there that one of the leaders of the UPC, Ernest Ouandié, was executed in 1971. The members of the commission had the opportunity to meet teachers and students from the University of Dschang, who also contributed to this important research work.
Back in Yaoundé, the commission went to the University of Yaoundé 1, in order to collect testimonies from Cameroonian students and researchers on this historical period. This desire to understand the feelings of the people who lived through this era testifies to the importance of this memory commission and its commitment to doing justice to the history of Cameroon.
But the commission’s research does not stop there. Soon, she plans to go to other regions of the country, notably in the center, in Bassa country, on the coast in the Sanaga-Maritime region, and in Douala. All these regions were affected to different degrees by the exactions of the French army during the pre-colonial period, as well as by the abuses of the Cameroonian regime which succeeded this period.
The final report of the memory commission is expected in December 2024, and the team assures that it will be there on time. This report will certainly be an essential element in shedding light on this period in Cameroon’s history and will allow a better understanding of past events.
In conclusion, the work of the memory commission on the role of France during the period of repression against Cameroonian nationalists is an important step towards the recognition and understanding of the country’s history. The research and testimonies collected will help shed light on this troubled period and bring justice to the victims. The final report expected in December 2024 will be a key step in this process of memory and transmission of history.