Thirty-six African migrants expelled from the United States have initiated legal proceedings in Cameroon to challenge a bilateral migration agreement between Yaoundé and Washington. Their lawyer, Me Joseph Fru Awah, confirmed the action, stating that the lawsuit filed with the Yaoundé administrative court aims to halt the enforcement of this deal, which permits the transfer of irregular migrants from the US to Cameroon. The plaintiffs are also seeking legal residency status to remain in Cameroon without fear of further deportation.

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

Administrative limbo fuels legal battle

According to the attorney, these migrants had previously obtained US court rulings blocking their deportation to their home countries. Despite this, they were transferred to Cameroon between January and May 2026. Since arrival, they have been housed in a facility supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), though they remain undocumented and face restricted movement. Cameroon is among several African nations that have agreed to accept US-deported migrants, alongside the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Eswatini.

Under the Trump administration’s policy, migrants barred from deportation to their home countries could still be transferred to a third nation. This lawsuit could now force Cameroonian courts to scrutinize the conditions under which this mechanism operates within the country.