A coalition of 36 African migrants who faced deportation from the United States has launched legal proceedings in Cameroon’s capital. Their lawsuit, filed with the Yaoundé administrative court, demands the immediate suspension of the migration pact that facilitated their transfer to Cameroonian soil. The group also seeks formal recognition of their right to remain in Cameroon, arguing that returning them to their home countries would expose them to severe persecution and human rights violations.

According to their legal representative, Me Joseph Fru Awah, the transfer arrangement contravenes international humanitarian principles. « Cameroon cannot serve as a transit point for individuals facing persecution or torture, » he emphasized. The plaintiffs hail from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Morocco—each with documented cases of judicial protection against deportation in the US.

Administrative limbo fuels legal battle

The migrants allege they were transferred to Cameroon between January and May 2026 despite prior US court rulings blocking their deportation to their countries of origin. Upon arrival, they were accommodated in a facility supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), yet remain without proper identification documents or clear legal status. Their movements remain restricted, underscoring the precarious nature of their situation.

Cameroon is one of several African nations that have agreed to receive deportees from the US under third-country transfer arrangements. Other participating states include the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Eswatini. The Trump administration’s policy asserts that when deportation to a migrant’s home country is legally blocked, transfer to a third nation remains a viable alternative. The Yaoundé court’s ruling on this case could set a critical precedent for how such agreements are enforced across the continent.