Corruption at Douala Airport: Camerooonians returning from diaspora forced to pay huge sums for ‘non possession of visa’

By David Atangana

Cameroonians returning to the country from the diaspora have raised an alarm bell, over corrupt practices by officials of the Douala International Airport.

Jude, a returnee told MMI that airport officials now demand visas from Cameroonian citizens visiting their own country.

They are reportedly forced to pay huge sums of money for ‘non visa possession’ before stepping on Cameroonian soil.

Our source who said his friends have also been victims of such practice angrily questioned whether Cameroonians abroad have suddenly become foreigners in their own country.

“I have been in the United Arab Emirates for over three years, and decided to go visit my family back home. When I arrived at the Douala international airport I was so shocked at the scan desks, when they requested that i provide a Cameroon visa,” Jude told MMI.

“I showed my Cameroon international passport, flight ticket, yellow fever card, but they said i need to have a visa to enter or visit my own country,” he went on.

Noting that visas are applicable to foreigners not citizens of the country, the victim lamented that it is a corrupt scheme to rob Cameroonians who are returning home.

“I do not have dual nationality,no foreign passport nor document with me,” he said adding that, “These guys are doing all they can to steal money from people.”

It should be noted that as a Cameroonian national,one does not need a visa to visit the country.

Jude pleaded with the authorities to investigate the issue — wondering wether a Cameroonian automatically becomes foreigner by traveling out of the country.

Mimi Mefo Info