Migrants expelled to Cameroon file lawsuit for protection

Thirty-six African migrants expelled from the United States to Cameroon in 2026 have filed a legal complaint in Yaoundé. The plaintiffs, who hail from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Morocco, had previously been granted legal protections in the U.S. preventing their deportation to their home countries.

Through their legal action, they seek Cameroonian judicial protection and the suspension of the bilateral migration agreement between Cameroon and Washington. According to their attorney, Maître Joseph Fru Awah, the lawsuit also aims to prevent their potential forced return to their countries of origin.

Seeking justice: Attorney explains legal strategy

Joseph Fru Awah: As with any legal action before a court, we are hopeful that justice will prevail. Our petition requests the court to suspend the diplomatic exchange between Cameroon and the United States. We also urge the court to clarify the legal status of these individuals in Cameroon. Most importantly, we seek an injunction to prevent Cameroon from deporting these migrants.

Addressing concerns about national interests

Joseph Fru Awah: I cannot comment on financial or geopolitical motivations behind international agreements—that falls outside my expertise. My role is to assess their legality. While sovereign nations have the right to establish bilateral agreements, those agreements must comply with both national and international law. That is precisely what we are demanding here.

As legal representatives, our focus is on whether this agreement adheres to legal standards. If it does not, we have petitioned the court to intervene by suspending the agreement, clarifying the migrants’ legal status, and preventing their deportation.

Humanitarian crisis: The toll on expelled migrants

Joseph Fru Awah: The psychological trauma these individuals endure is profound. For instance, several migrants have required hospitalization five times within just six months. The conditions they face are dire—this is precisely why legal action was initiated.