36 African migrants fight deportation from Cameroon in landmark legal battle

A group of 36 African migrants expelled from the United States to Yaoundé, Cameroon, has filed a lawsuit to challenge their deportation and suspend a bilateral migration agreement with Washington. Their legal representative, Me Joseph Fru Awah, argues that Cameroon cannot serve as a transit point for individuals facing persecution or torture in their home countries.

Legal action seeks to block deportation agreements

The lawsuit, filed with the Yaoundé administrative court, demands the suspension of the US-Cameroon migration accord. It also seeks to grant the 36 individuals legal protection in Cameroon, preventing their forced return to their countries of origin—Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Morocco.

“Cameroon cannot be used as a transit hub to send people back to persecution or torture,” stated Me Joseph Fru Awah in a public statement. The migrants, protected from deportation in the US until early 2026, were expelled between January and May of that year and now face renewed risk of removal from Cameroon.

Life in legal limbo in Yaoundé

Since their arrival, the group has been confined to a facility managed by Cameroonian authorities with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). According to their lawyer, they lack proper identification documents, face movement restrictions, and remain in legal uncertainty.

Diplomatic pressure and financial incentives

The US administration has justified these deportations by claiming it cannot return individuals to their home countries but has the right to transfer them to third nations. Reports indicate Washington has offered multi-million-dollar agreements and threatened visa restrictions to persuade African and other governments to accept expelled migrants.

Cameroon is among several African nations, including Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, and South Sudan, that have agreed to receive deportees from the US.

Human rights concerns fuel legal challenge

The case highlights growing international scrutiny over US deportation policies and their human rights implications. Legal experts warn that sending migrants to third countries without proper safeguards could violate international law and expose returnees to grave risks.