Officials of the Cameroon diplomatic mission in Equatorial Guinea have embarked on draconian and financially exploitative measures that are inhibiting the ability of Cameroonians from fleeing the country.
The tempo has been increased to involve the payment of huge sums of money by those who want to flee from persistent abuse in the Central African nation.
These measures are contained in a statement signed on December 21, 2022, by Cameroon’s Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Désiré Jean-Claude Owono Menguele.
Cameroonians who present expired passports are forced to pay the sum of 30,000 FCFA representing the cost of travel passes before they are issued documents to return to Cameroon, their own country.
Meanwhile, those whose valid passports are declared lost must pay 30,000 FCFA for the pass, then “attach a declaration of loss, either drawn up and certified at the embassy up to 10,000 FCFA or emanating from the services of the host country.”
Cameroonians who do not have a photocopy of their valid passport declared lost must pay 30,000 FCFA for the pass, 10,000 FCFA for the declaration of loss, 5,000 FCFA for the sworn statement, and 5,000 FCFA more constituting the penalties for absence in the declaration of loss, unless the interested party provides proof of a declaration formally made before the authorities of the host country, at the time of the loss.
As for Cameroonians who have never owned a passport, they are expected to also pay exorbitant sums, to get travel documents.
That is 30,000 FCFA for the pass, 15,000 FCFA more for the certificate of non-holding of a passport, drawn up and certified by the embassy, and 5,000 FCFA for the sworn statement.
All Cameroonians are also expected to have purchased their plane ticket and present a Cameroonian identity document and a consular card before they can be supported to leave the country.
These actions go contrary to the expectations of many who thought that they will receive support to get back home, especially given that President Biya in October, announced that money will be disbursed to support them.
In October 2022 President Paul Biya instructed the release of the sum of 125 million CFA francs, for the repatriation of Cameroonians from this neighboring country, to Cameroon, following the vast operations of the expulsion of foreigners who did not have the right documentation to be in Equatorial Guinea.
In December, another wave of Cameroonians was repatriated, as a precautionary measure linked to the organization of the presidential elections.
A total of 1,485 Cameroonians have already returned to their native country from Equatorial Guinea.
It is, however, feared that the actions of the Cameroon diplomatic mission will make it more difficult for Cameroonians who need to return to the country to do so.
Many have questioned why Cameroonians need to pay money to secure documents to get back to their own country when they have proof of citizenship.
By Amina Hilda
