The Cameroonian historian rendered his conclusions on Emmanuel Macron and calls to recognize “the African roots of France”.
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For months, Achille Mbembe consulted, listened, compiled. Appointed by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, to gather the remarks of Africans from the continent and those of the diaspora, the Cameroonian political scientist and historian handed his “contribution” Tuesday, October 5th. A 140-page long-dusting work supposed to pave the way for a “refoundation” of the relationship between France and the continent. Thirteen more or less concrete proposals are formulated, including the creation of a “home of African worlds and diasporas”, which the intellectual proposes to baptize in tribute to the Guadeloup writer Maryse Condé.
Published a few days before the summit which must bring together, Friday, October 8 in Montpellier, representatives of African civil societies, the document signed by Achille Mbembe is part of the line of the report Sarr-Savoy on the return of heritage African, and the one on “the memoirs of colonization and the Algerian war”, delivered by Benjamin Stora in January.
To lay the basics of this “refoundation” often mentioned but never carried out, the Cameroonian intellectual participated, from March to July, more than 65 debates and meetings in France and in 12 countries of the continent. A process criticized by some African intellectuals, who accused this purple of “Françafrique”, to have compromised with French power by accepting the Elysean mission. But, “in total, more than 3,600 people” took part in these “dialogues” in the presence or distance, welcomes Mr. Mbembe. Young people, for the most part.
Through African eyes
Their grievances are synthesized in the “Dispute Disputes” chapter: CFA franc, military interventions, resentment with regard to French companies, hardening of migration policy, support for certain authoritarian regimes, impasses memorials … subjects Many are numerous, often lites of references to colonial heritage. In this respect, Achille Mbembe believes that “the recognition of the perversion of colonialism, of his nature, literally, of crime against humanity, is important”. Opened by the Macron candidate during the 2017 campaign, when traveling to Algiers, the formula has not been resumed in these terms by the President elected since.
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