Ancien Commissariat de Police: Echoes of Colonial History

The Ancien Commissariat de Police, or Old Police Station, is a significant historical building in Douala, Cameroon, located in the administrative district of Bonanjo. Constructed at the beginning of the 20th century during the German colonial period, it served as the city's first police station under German administration. The building's architecture is a reflection of classical Prussian design, a style favored by the German colonizers.More than just an architectural relic, the Ancien Commissariat de Police holds a somber place in Cameroonian history. In 1914, it was the site where King Rudolf Douala Manga Bell and his secretary, Adolf Ngosso Din, were unjustly sentenced to death. Their crime was opposing a decree that ordered the expropriation and resettlement of native Duala people from their ancestral lands. The two men were imprisoned within the Commissariat, condemned, and subsequently hanged.Today, the Ancien Commissariat de Police houses the administrative services of the Merchant Navy. While the interior may not be accessible for extensive tours, the building's exterior remains a powerful reminder of Douala's colonial past and the struggle for Cameroonian sovereignty. The surrounding Bonanjo neighborhood adds to the location's charm with its bustling streets and vibrant atmosphere.