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

Through their lawsuit, they seek legal safeguards from Cameroon and the suspension of the bilateral migration agreement with Washington. According to their lawyer, Joseph Fru Awah, the legal action also aims to bar any future deportation to their countries of origin.

Seeking justice: lawyer explains the legal battle

Joseph Fru Awah: Every court case follows a clear objective: we hope the court will grant our requests. Our primary demand is for the suspension of the exchange of notes between Cameroon and the U.S. We also urge the court to clarify the legal status of our clients within Cameroon. Finally, we seek an order preventing Cameroon from deporting these individuals.

Challenging the deportation deal: financial interests vs. legality

Joseph Fru Awah: I cannot comment on financial aspects of international agreements. My role is to assess their legality. While sovereign nations like Cameroon and the U.S. are free to establish bilateral accords, these must comply with both national and international law. That is precisely what we are demanding the court to enforce.

My focus remains on the legal framework. We argue that the current agreement violates international and national laws. Therefore, we petition the court to intervene by suspending the agreement, clarifying the legal status of our clients, and preventing their deportation.

Trauma and hardship: the human cost of deportation

Joseph Fru Awah: These individuals are deeply traumatized. For instance, some have required hospitalization five times in just six months. The situation is dire—psychologically devastating. This is precisely why we initiated legal proceedings.