A recent report by Human Rights Watch has unveiled that Cameroonian authorities have been unlawfully detaining dozens of migrants deported from the United States in recent weeks. Among those affected are asylum seekers and individuals facing persecution in their home countries. The organization criticized these deportations as a blatant violation of international law, noting that the deportations occurred as part of a secret agreement between Washington and Yaoundé, despite Cameroon not being considered a safe country for deportees.

The organization detailed that 17 individuals from nine different African nations were detained immediately upon their arrival in the capital, Yaoundé, without any legal basis. Some of these deportees had legal protections in the U.S. that should have prevented their return to their home countries where they faced risks of torture or persecution. Alarmingly, two of the deportees were forced to return to their home countries, while 15 remain in detention, raising significant concerns about their safety and legal rights.

Furthermore, Cameroon has been grappling with armed conflicts and widespread human rights violations, including torture in prisons and repression of the opposition and media. The report indicates that journalists attempting to cover the conditions faced by these deportees also face similar risks, highlighting a broader culture of repression within the country. The implications of this are profound, as they not only jeopardize the lives of the deportees but also undermine international legal standards regarding the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.