The role of France against the independence and opposition movements in Cameroon between 1945 and 1971 is a subject little known to the general public. However, a “history and memory” commission was created with the aim of exploring this period of Cameroonian history. Under the direction of researcher and historian Karine Ramondy and Cameroonian singer Blick Bassy, this commission went to Yaoundé to meet living witnesses of this era.
The commission, made up of French and Cameroonian experts, works on two aspects: historical research and the artistic, cultural and heritage aspect. Its objective is to independently examine France’s involvement in the fight against independence and opposition movements in Cameroon for more than 25 years.
The challenge facing the commission is the erosion of time. Indeed, many witnesses from this era have already died. However, there are still a few elderly people who were interviewed to collect their testimonies. Despite the limited number of witnesses, it is a unique opportunity to be able to hear their words and include them in this research.
Regarding the archives, the commission has already been able to access some of them, whether in Cameroon or in France. However, access to the national archives in Yaoundé was temporarily limited due to their move. Nevertheless, the commission managed to digitize a large part of French military archives, some of which were classified. In addition, the commission’s researchers plan to work on still-classified archives that are in the process of being declassified.
Despite the difficulties and limitations associated with the erosion of time and access to archives, the commission is satisfied with its findings so far. She is aware of the still little-known nature of this period of history, both in France and in Cameroon, and is actively working to remedy this gap. Indeed, the ultimate objective of the commission is to integrate this history into school curricula, like the Algerian War in France.
The work of the “history and memory” commission on the role of France against the independence and opposition movements in Cameroon between 1945 and 1971 is therefore crucial to better understand this period of history and to shed light on the events which marked the country. Thanks to the testimonies still available and the archives consulted, the commission is on track to achieve its objectives and contribute to a better understanding of this part of Cameroon’s history.