Nigeria: US deports nine African migrants to Cameroon under third-country deal

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

Nine migrants from four African nations arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday after being expelled from the United States, a lawyer for the group confirmed Thursday. The deportation is part of a controversial US program that sends undocumented migrants to third countries when direct repatriation is blocked.

The six women and three men are nationals of Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, and Congo-Brazzaville, said Alma David, a US immigration lawyer. They are the third group sent to Cameroon under the scheme since January, bringing the total to 26.

Cameroon is one of several African countries — including Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan, Eswatini, and the Democratic Republic of Congo — that have agreed to accept deportees from the US. The deals apply when US courts block deportation to a migrant’s home country over safety concerns. According to the New York Times, Washington is paying Cameroon $30 million to participate.

Of the 17 migrants previously sent to Cameroon, four have since been deported to their countries of origin: Morocco, Angola, and Senegal. Two Moroccan women were returned despite US courts ruling their fears for their safety were credible. Awah said they are now living in hiding in Morocco.