Gov’t wades in at last to rescue Cameroonians trapped in Ukraine

By Tata Mbunwe

Cameroon’s embassy in Berlin, Germany, has announced ongoing efforts, in collaboration with the German Government, to facilitate the evacuation of Cameroonians in war-torn Ukraine.

The Ministry of External Relations, MINREX, posted a communiqué signed by Cameroon’s Ambassador to Germany, Victor Ndoki, on Wednesday, March 2, directing compatriots on how to get help out of Ukraine.

“Compatriots who are still in Ukraine and would like to cross the borders to enter the European Union are invited to contact; In Ukraine 257 (toll-free from a mobile phone), 080050501 (toll-free from a landline),” part of Ambassador Ndoki’s release reads.

It also contains telephone numbers for Cameroonians who want to cross into Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Germany.

“Those who have crossed the borders and found themselves in Poland, Austria, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belarus, Slovakia and Kosovo, etc, and who have Ukrainian residence permit, should contact the German embassies in the capitals of these countries for any consular assistance,” the release further reads.

The recent move is the first significant step the Government of Cameroon is taking towards Cameroonians trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war, amid criticisms at home over government’s neglect of fellow Cameroonians.

Western media have reported about African students in Ukraine raising concerns about racial discriminations at border crossings, and blacks are not being given equal attention like whites.

This has caused most African countries to intensify efforts at evacuating their citizens from Ukraine. German broadcaster, DW, reported on Thursday that 256 Nigerian students had left Ukraine, while the Tanzanian foreign ministry said it crossed 38 nationals into Poland.

Also, Zimbabwean authorities say they have evacuated 118 students from Ukraine to Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, while 79 Kenyans are reported to have left Ukraine since confrontations started seven days ago.

Ghana equally said it had evacuated 500 nationals from Ukraine since the war broke out and the Guinean foreign ministry announced it was created a crisis unit to help coordinate the evacuation of its citizens in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, there are reports that some African who migrated illegally into Ukraine are not willing to evacuate for fear that the Ukrainian Government might not accept them back into the country when the war will be over.

Fierce confrontations continue in Ukraine for a seventh day since Russian forces entered the country last week. The UN says over 1 million people have been displaced by the conflict.

A UN General Assembly vote ratified by 141 countries condemned the Russian incursion, but five countries, including Russia and North Korea, backed the attack. Meanwhile, 35 countries, including China and India secured neutral positions.