Cameroon deports 100,000 Boko Haram refugees

News agencies are reporting that Cameroon has forcibly returned 100,000 Nigerian refugees over breach of international agreements.

Cameroonian soldiers have been accused of deporting refugees escaping Islamist violence, as well as attacking and sexually exploiting them and  “punishing” refugees for Boko Haram attacks.

Since early 2015, the Cameroonian authorities have summarily deported at least 100,000 Nigerians living in remote border areas back to war, displacement and destitution in Nigeria’s Borno state. In carrying out these deportations, Cameroonian soldiers have frequently used extreme physical violence’.

Earlier this year, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) criticised Cameroon for forcibly returning hundreds of refugees to north-east Nigeria. It said the returns had “continued unabated”, despite the signing of an agreement ensuring that any returns would be voluntary.

The Cameroonian authorities have previously claimed that Boko Haram militants have been entering the country disguised as refugees.

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Forced return of refugees contravenes a serious violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1969 OAU Convention, both of which Cameroon has ratified.

It has previously called on Cameroon to honour its obligations under the conventions and continue keeping its borders open to allow access to territory and asylum procedures for people fleeing the Islamist insurgency.