Manama, Bahrain – Hundreds of Cameroonian citizens residing in Bahrain are facing an agonising wait for passport renewals, leaving many in a precarious situation. The delays stem from the inability of the Cameroonian embassy in Saudi Arabia to send a team for biometric data collection, a crucial step in the renewal process. In December, MMI reported the challenges they were facing regarding the exorbitant cost of passports. But it appears, the situation has just gotten worse.
In a heartfelt message to the MMI Team, an anonymous Cameroonian currently residing in Bahrain expressed grief and disappointment over the ongoing challenges faced by the Cameroonian community in obtaining passport renewals.
Since the last visit by representatives from the Cameroonian embassy in Saudi Arabia, there has been no subsequent visit despite numerous pleas and messages sent to the embassy. The representatives, who are responsible for biometric data collection necessary for passport renewals, have not returned to Bahrain, leaving many Cameroonians in limbo.
“Cameroonians are here in their hundreds, living illegally and without jobs just because their passports are expired and their companies can’t renew their visas,” the anonymous resident explained. “Many others cannot travel due to this issue.”
According to a letter sent by the Cameroon Association in Bahrain (CAMBAH) in March, a team was scheduled to visit Bahrain for passport services. However, technical difficulties, specifically a faulty bio-data collection machine, have thwarted those plans.
The situation has caused significant frustration and hardship for Cameroonians in Bahrain. Many have reportedly paid for passport renewals online months ago but remain in limbo. Expired passports prevent them from working legally, traveling, or even residing in Bahrain without penalty.
“They keep on promising and failing,” lamented a Cameroonian resident. “Now most of us are stranded due to passport issues.”
While CAMBAH acknowledges the challenges and expresses appreciation for patience, the ongoing delays have left many feeling helpless. The letter from March offered no concrete timeline for when the technical issues would be resolved or when a team would visit Bahrain.
“We understand the importance of having access to passport renewal services and the frustration that these delays may cause,” the letter reads, “but please be assured that both the Passport Committee and the team in Saudi Arabia are working tirelessly to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.”
However, for many Cameroonians, “as soon as possible” isn’t soon enough. “I paid for my passport renewal in December,” said another resident, Aissatou (name changed to protect privacy). “I can’t work without a valid passport, and now my visa is expiring too. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
As of today, May 29th, there have been no further updates from the embassy or CAMBAH.
This ongoing story will be updated as new information becomes available.
