On the 200th anniversary of Haiti’s forced indemnity, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the historic injustice of France demanding a massive debt from Haiti in exchange for its independence.

Though he stopped short of offering reparations, Macron announced a joint French-Haitian commission to examine their shared history.

The 1825 indemnity, originally 150 million gold francs, severely crippled Haiti’s economy and is linked to the country’s ongoing instability, NBC News has reported.

Macron emphasized the importance of confronting historical truths but, like past French leaders, did not commit to financial compensation.

Written by B.C. Begley