Mandela Center Cameroun: Déportations Migrants Raise Non-Refoulement Concerns

• The Mandela Center International (MCI) has denounced the conditions for 36 African migrants transferred to Cameroon after expulsion from the United States.
• These migrants, from nine African countries, arrived on four flights between January and May 2026, allegedly under a US-Cameroon migration agreement.
• MCI reports that migrants lack identity documents, legal status, face movement restrictions, and five have returned to their home countries despite risks.
• The organization urges Cameroon to uphold the principle of non-refoulement and has asked the African Union to establish a deportation monitoring mechanism.
• Cameroonian authorities have not officially responded to MCI's concerns or commented on the alleged migration agreement.

The organization suggests that these expulsions are linked to an alleged migration agreement between Washington and Yaoundé, though official confirmation of such an accord remains elusive from the Cameroonian side.

The Mandela Center International (MCI) has raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of African migrants who have been expelled from the United States and subsequently transferred to Cameroon. The human rights organization is urging both Cameroonian authorities and the African Union to ensure the protection of these individuals' fundamental rights and uphold the crucial principe de non-refoulement. This intervention follows a communiqué issued by the MCI on September 7, 2026, detailing the circumstances of these transfers.

According to the MCI's report, a total of 36 individuals, originating from nine different African nations, have been sent to Cameroon since January of the current year. These transfers reportedly occurred across four separate flights that arrived between January and May 2026. The organization suggests that these expulsions are linked to an alleged accord migratoire USA Cameroun, though official confirmation of such an accord remains elusive from the Cameroonian side.

Jean-Claude Fogno, the permanent executive secretary of the Mandela Center International, highlighted the precarious situation of these migrants. He noted that many arrive without proper identity documents and lack a clearly established legal status within Cameroon, leading to restrictions on their freedom of movement. Furthermore, the MCI has reported that five of these individuals have already returned to their countries of origin, despite facing potential dangers such as torture or retaliatory actions upon their return.

The core of the Mandela Center International's appeal centers on the principe de non-refoulement Cameroun, a cornerstone of international refugee law that prohibits the return of individuals to a country where they would face persecution. The organization is specifically calling on the Cameroonian government to uphold this principle and to ensure that asylum procedures are properly initiated and followed for all transferred migrants. This emphasis on protecting the droits des migrants Cameroun underscores the potential legal and ethical breaches associated with the current situation.

In an effort to address these systemic issues, the Mandela Center International has also formally engaged with the African Union. The organization has requested the establishment of a dedicated Union Africaine mécanisme déportations, aiming to provide oversight and accountability for such transfers across the continent. This proactive step by the MCI highlights the broader regional implications of these alleged expulsions and the need for a coordinated response to protect the rights of migrants.

Despite the gravity of the allegations and repeated communications from the Mandela Center International, Cameroonian authorities have reportedly offered no official reaction to the concerns raised. The MCI has expressed its disappointment over this lack of response, indicating that multiple correspondences and direct appeals regarding the situation of these Mandela Center Cameroun déportations migrants have gone unacknowledged. This silence from the government complicates efforts to ensure the welfare of the transferred individuals and to clarify the legal basis for their presence in Cameroon.

Adding to the opacity surrounding these events, the Cameroonian government has consistently refrained from making any official comment on the alleged accord migratoire USA Cameroun. This absence of public acknowledgment or denial of a bilateral agreement with the United States leaves many questions unanswered regarding the framework under which these migrants are being transferred and the responsibilities of both nations involved. The Mandela Center International continues its advocacy, emphasizing the urgent need for transparency and adherence to international human rights standards in all matters concerning migrant déportations.

Lawyers advising migrants or human rights organizations should be aware of the alleged US-Cameroon migration agreement and the potential violations of the non-refoulement principle for deported individuals. This situation creates grounds for legal challenges and advocacy regarding migrant rights in Cameroon.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun