Thirty-six African migrants recently expelled from the United States have initiated legal proceedings in Cameroon to challenge a controversial repatriation agreement between Yaoundé and Washington. Their legal representative, Me Joseph Fru Awah, confirmed the action, stating that the lawsuit targets the enforcement of the agreement, which permits the transfer of undocumented migrants from US soil to Cameroon. The plaintiffs are also demanding legal recognition to remain in Cameroon without risk of further deportation.

The legal team argues that several clients face credible threats of persecution or torture if returned to their countries of origin, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Morocco. « Cameroon cannot serve as a transit hub for individuals facing persecution or torture, » emphasized Me Joseph Fru Awah.

Administrative uncertainty for returnees

According to the lawyer, many of these migrants had previously obtained US court rulings blocking their deportation to their home countries. Despite this legal protection, they were transferred to Cameroon between January and May 2026. Upon arrival in Yaoundé, they were placed in a temporary reception center managed with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The migrants report lacking proper identification documents, unclear residency status, and restricted freedom of movement. Cameroon is one of several African nations that agreed to accept deportees from the US under third-country transfer arrangements. Other participating countries include the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Eswatini.

Under the framework set by the previous US administration, migrants whose deportation to their home countries was blocked by court orders could still be transferred to a third nation. This lawsuit now forces Cameroonian courts to examine the legality and conditions of such transfers on national soil.