France’s admission of a war in Cameroon prompts a crucial question: why did it take so long? The reckoning was delayed for over half a century due to a combination of political denial, strategic interests, and a collective unwillingness to tarnish the national myth.
Politically, successive French governments saw no advantage in admitting to a brutal colonial war. It would complicate diplomatic ties and open the state to legal and financial claims. The Cold War context also played a role, as nationalist movements were often branded as communist threats, justifying their suppression.
Furthermore, there was a strong desire to protect the image of the French army, which was already scarred by its experiences in Indochina and Algeria. Admitting to another dirty war was seen as detrimental to national pride and military morale.
It took a new generation of leaders, sustained pressure from activists and historians, and a changed geopolitical landscape for the admission to become possible. The long delay, however, means that most of the direct victims and perpetrators are no longer alive, making justice a more complex and abstract pursuit.
