Thirty-six African migrants expelled from the United States to Cameroon in mid-2026 have initiated legal proceedings in Yaoundé. The plaintiffs, hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Morocco, had previously secured legal protections in the U.S. preventing their deportation to their countries of origin.

Through their legal action, they seek temporary protection under Cameroonian law and the suspension of the bilateral migration agreement between Washington and Yaoundé. Their legal representative, Attorney Joseph Fru Awah, emphasizes that the lawsuit also aims to block any potential forced return to their home countries.

Legal arguments against the U.S.-Cameroon migration pact

Joseph Fru Awah: As with any court filing, we are seeking judicial recognition of our clients’ rights. Our primary demands are threefold: first, to suspend the diplomatic exchange underpinning the migration agreement; second, to compel Cameroonian authorities to clarify the legal status of these individuals; and third, to prevent their deportation from Cameroon.

Questioning the legality of the agreement

Joseph Fru Awah: I cannot comment on financial or diplomatic considerations—my role is to assess legality. While sovereign nations retain the right to establish agreements, such accords must comply with both national and international law. That is precisely what our legal challenge asserts: the agreement must adhere to established legal frameworks, and we are requesting the court to enforce this principle.

As legal practitioners, our focus is on ensuring these individuals are not subjected to unlawful treatment. If the agreement violates national or international statutes, the court must intervene to suspend it, clarify the migrants’ status, and prevent their removal.

Humanitarian crisis unfolds in Cameroon

Joseph Fru Awah: The psychological toll on these individuals is severe. Allow me to illustrate: after six months in Cameroon, some have required hospitalization five times—an appalling situation that compelled us to take legal action. The conditions they endure are dire, which is why we pursued this lawsuit.