Amid the ongoing armed conflict in the Anglophone regions, Akum Elvis, a Cameroonian from the North West, has shared his harrowing journey from his homeland to Germany. His testimony sheds light on the challenges faced by those seeking refuge amid conflict and instability.
“I left Cameroon with the objective of reaching Germany in 3 weeks, but I found myself spending 2 whole years,” Elvis said in a Facebook post.
Elvis narrated how it was a relatively smooth journey from Cameroon to Nigeria, then on to Niger. However, it was the crossing of the Sahara Desert into Algeria that marked the beginning of an arduous ordeal.
“A car which was designed to carry just 4 people came and carried over 9 of us. The car kicked off and dropped us halfway into the desert, where we spent a whole week sleeping on sand & surviving on just one bottle of water with no food,” Elvis revealed.
After enduring a week of extreme conditions, he said another car picked them up, transporting them 500km to the toll gate of Algeria. From there, the group had to traverse the remaining distance on foot. Elvis shared the grim reality, “We trekked for over 2 days, and over 3 people in the group were so exhausted from the journey that they preferred to stay back and die in the desert.”
Entering the town of Tamarasset in Algeria, Elvis said he spent months before heading to the capital, Algiers. The journey was not without loss, as Elvis recalled encountering lifeless bodies along the way. In his group, many were left behind, their fate sealed in the vast expanse of the desert.
“I spent again a long duration at Algiers because deportation was going on, and I spent time running from police from one place to another,” Elvis added. The challenges persisted as he travelled from Algiers to Tunisia, falling victim to robbers who stripped him of his possessions. Undeterred, Elvis and his companions embarked on a gruelling trek from Tebessa to Tunisia, with some succumbing to the harsh conditions, while others were apprehended by the police.
Upon reaching Tunisia, Elvis took a much-needed rest before making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy. Reflecting on this leg of the journey, he stated, “We spent about 3 days on water, and we reached Italy successfully.” From Italy, Elvis continued his trek, passing through Switzerland on his way to Germany.
Elvis’ story has elicited diverse reactions from Cameroonians. While some see it as a sign of inspiration, others, like Chukwuma Ndiogulu, think that qualifying Elvis’ experience as a “success story” downplays the dangers for those who have ventured in the past or are planning to do so.
“Last year, over 5000+ people from Africa, including Cameroon, died attempting to reach Europe, a statistic from the UNHCR that underscores the severe risks involved in such journeys. Many others perish in the desert or suffer from heat-related complications long before they even see the sea. These figures remind us that for every story of unlikely survival, there are countless tales of loss and death with no records,” Ndiogulu said, adding that “while we recognise Akum’s determination, it’s crucial to remember that his narrative is far from typical and should not overshadow the dire circumstances that led many to undertake such treacherous paths.”
Mister Bobby, who agrees with Ndiogulu, said, “It’s not worth it, bro, taking all the risk.”
But he is still being a ‘hero’ and an ‘inspiration’.
“You are indeed a strong man,” Leading Youths wrote on Facebook.
Abere Denis Iokou also reacted, saying, “Wow, we thank God he finally arrived well.”
“What is inspirational about this story?” Halines added.
