After a week-long stay in Cameroon, Karine Ramondy is optimistic about the outcome of the work of the “Memory Commission” responsible for revisiting Cameroon’s colonial past: “We received a warm welcome from the authorities, and especially the ministers of culture this morning, who assured us that the national archives will be made available to us. In France, they already are, after 50 years, but some remain undeclassified,” reported the French historian at the start of the press conference she gave with Blick Bassy with whom she co-chairs this commission. Already satisfied with the “good relations” she has with the director of the National Archives. The two characters met in particular the Minister of Territorial Administration and that of Culture. “The Minister of Culture has promised us his support in setting up the Committee of Elders which will include traditional leaders and personalities who can be facilitators in research and meetings with sources,” added Blick Bassy. The co-presidents who came “to make arrangements to ensure that the members of the commission will be able to have easy access to the” did not, however, meet the authorities of the Ministry of Defence, but “we were able to obtain the necessary guarantees from the highest authorities of the country ; now if when the time comes certain actors refuse to parry, we are not going to force them to speak”, underlines Karine Ramondy.
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The French historian reassured the public that “our appointment is the result of consultations between France and Cameroon; and me in particular, it is a unique opportunity because you cannot imagine how many of my projects have remained blocked due to lack of access to certain information”. Adding that “a number of historians even agreed to be part of this team on the basis of the confidence they have in me”. Anyway, “it’s a work of researchers framed by policies, but already, you can count on my pugnacity so that this mission is a success”, guaranteed Karine Ramondy.
