Cameroon’s corrupt dictator of 38 years, Paul Biya. Photo: WIkimedia Commons
Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, along with 52 other members of Congress today introduced a resolution urging for the halt of deportations to Cameroon.
“The United States must uphold its commitments under international treaties related to refugees and asylum-seekers and halt deportations of Cameroonian citizens,” Rep. Bass, said. “Many of the individuals who were deported last week were allegedly improperly coerced to sign voluntary deportation orders. Upon their arrival in Cameroon, many will be at imminent risk of death. To do this while we are transitioning between administrations is outrageous and unacceptable. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.”
The Guardian recently published a story detailing how U.S. law enforcement agents tortured Cameroonians seeking asylum into signing voluntary deportation documents. Cameroon is being devastated by civil war between the English-speaking region and the dominant French-speaking parts of the country, a legacy of the country’s former colonial powers.
The country is ruled by one of Africa’s most corrupt dictators, Paul Biya, 87, who has been in power for 38 years now. He spends most of his time in a Geneva, Switzerland, luxury hotel.
