Secret Cameroon Deportation Agreement and Torture of Deportees

What Happened

In January and February 2026, under a secret agreement between the United States and Cameroon, the US deported 17 people to Cameroon who were nationals of nine different African countries: Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe. None were Cameroonian nationals.

The deportees included asylum seekers, individuals with court-ordered protections against return to their home countries due to fear of persecution or torture, and at least one stateless person. By sending them to Cameroon rather than their countries of origin, the US circumvented specific judicial orders prohibiting their deportation.

Documented Abuses on Arrival

Human Rights Watch documented systematic abuses against deportees immediately upon arrival:

• Beatings by gendarmes: Cameroonian gendarmes wielding batons beat deportees upon touchdown at Douala airport. At least 12 confirmed cases of arbitrary arrest and beating since late 2025.
• Arbitrary detention: Despite having no legal basis for detaining foreign nationals who arrived involuntarily, Cameroonian authorities immediately imprisoned deportees.
• Enforced disappearances: Some deportees were disappeared into the Cameroonian detention system without notification to families or legal representatives.
• Torture and rape: HRW documented cases of torture and sexual violence against deportees.
• Extortion: Detention was accompanied by demands for payment.
• Confiscation of identity documents: National IDs were seized, rendering deportees unable to prove their identity or nationality.
• Harassment of relatives: Family members of deportees were targeted for harassment.

Journalists Detained

When journalists attempted to interview deportees to document their conditions, Cameroonian authorities detained the reporters. The suppression of press coverage further obscures the scope of abuses and prevents accountability.

Secret Agreement

The deportation agreement between the US and Cameroon has not been made public. Unlike some other third-country agreements (such as Rwanda, which was documented at $7.5 million), the terms, financial arrangements, and scope of the Cameroon deal remain secret.

Cameroon's Own Human Rights Record

Cameroon is a particularly dangerous destination for deportees. For years, parts of the country have been wracked by violence and armed conflict. The Anglophone crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions has involved systematic government repression, and armed groups and government forces have committed widespread abuses including torture in detention, extrajudicial killings, and attacks on civilians.

The US State Department's own human rights reports document significant problems in Cameroon, including arbitrary arrest, prolonged pretrial detention, and torture by security forces.

Why This Entry Is Rated Critical

• Documented torture of deportees: HRW confirmed beating, torture, rape, and enforced disappearance upon arrival
• Circumvention of court orders: Deportees with judicial protection against return to their home countries were sent to a third country to evade those orders
• Stateless person deported: A person with no nationality was sent to a country where they have no legal existence
• Secret agreement: The terms of the arrangement are hidden from public scrutiny
• Press suppression: Journalists documenting conditions were detained
• Known danger: Cameroon's human rights record is well-documented by the State Department and international organizations
• Part of systematic pattern: This is the most extreme documented outcome of the broader third-country deportation system