Migration Challenges : Easing Legal Assistance For People On The Move

Given the preoccupying situation of Internally Displaced People, IDPs and migrants in the northern regions of Cameroon, and in the North West and South West Regions, the Cameroon Bar Association reached out to the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, also known as UN Migration. For Bar Association members to be trained to defend the rights and the humanitarian conditions of these people on the move, explained Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah, President of the Cameroon Bar Association. While opening the three-day Training Of Trainers workshop in Yaounde on June 24, 2025. With the theme, “Managing migration challenges: Facilitating access to legal assistance for people on the move in Cameroon.” It was sponsored by the European Union, EU.

Roles Of Stakeholders 
Aime Parfait Bikoro, a representative of the Cameroon Commission on Human Rights, recalled that the Commission works to protect the rights of migrants. It assists returning Cameroonians in the respect of the rights. The Cameroon Commission for Human Rights runs a toll-free number, 1525, for people in distress. Modibo Sacko of the African Court of Human Rights said his court has in the past ruled on the rights of migrants to ensure the protection of their dignity. 

Workshop Content 
Meanwhile, the training modules included introduction to human mobility and the migratory context in Cameroon; the legal framework for human mobility; assistance, legal protection of people on the move, and training and knowledge transfer techniques. 

Test Case  
“This is a humanitarian call to seek legal protection by people in difficult situations, which is not of their making. Though the law is there, legal system actors tend to be ignorant of it, and so the law is not properly applied. Thus, the reason for the training,” Barrister Mbah went on. He described the 22 lawyers from 10 regions selected for the Training Of Trainers’ workshop as “ambassadors for their other colleagues whom they will later train. This is a test case. It will determine if the training was worth it or not,” Barrister Mbah said. 

They Need Empathy  
According to him, 20 per cent of returning Cameroonian migrants are women, warning that the abuses they underwent could result in unwanted pregnancies and babies. Barrister Mbah Eric denounced what he described as the “ridiculous” attitude of security forces who recently arrested deported Cameroonian migrants in Douala for reportedly tarnishing the image of government while abroad. “These repatriated Cameroonians need our empathy instead of being thrown into prison. “We need to face the situation more squarely by joining hands with the Cameroon Commission for Human Rights,” he proposed.  

Understanding Of Situation 
According to Abdel Rahmane Diop, Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration for Cameroon (with coordinating function over Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe), the Cameroon Bar Association showed proof of extraordinary leadership and unusual understanding of the situation of people on the move. 

They All Need Protection
He emphasized that Internally Displaced People, vulnerable women, refugees and foreign migrants on Cameroonian soil all need legal protection. He said the training was made possible because of close collaboration between the International Organization for Migration, the Ministry of External Relations, the European Union, and the Cameroon Bar Association. 

Surging Numbers
“We are in a complex migration context that requires tailored responses. Cameroon is currently at the crossroads in the region's migration landscape. As of August 29, 2023, the Far North Region alone had 453,661 Internally Displaced Persons and 198,940 returnees. The North West and South West Regions recorded 648,421 Internally Displaced Persons. 
"Through its assisted voluntary return programme, the IOM has supported nearly 10,000 stranded Cameroonian migrants over the past four years, nearly 20 per cent of them being women. This means on average, six young people leave Cameroon irregularly everyday,” Abdel Rahmane disclosed.
“These figures are more than just statistics - they represent human lives and stories that call for concrete, professional, and compassionate responses. Through the training, the Cameroon Bar Association positioned itself as a strategic actor in the national response to migration challenges,” Diop stated.

Safe Spaces, Community Reintegration 
“For the IOM, the Bar is a pillar of peace in safe spaces. As part of the peace process underway in Cameroon, many ex-associates of non-state armed groups - including more than 1,800 women - will benefit from gradual community reintegration. By establishing safe spaces, the country offers a local response to people traumatized by violence. But these places of refuge must also be spaces governed by the law. The role of lawyers is therefore essential - to support, listen, defend. This is how the Bar actively contributes to peacebuilding,” Rahmane underscored.

Cameroon’s Commitments, Vision
“This initiative, which brought us together, was in line with Cameroon's commitments, as reiterated during the African Regional Review Forum of the Global Compact for Migration in 2022. Particularly with regard to the legal protection of migrants, regional cooperation, and the fight against trafficking. 
“It also responded to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDGs 10, 16 and 17. And to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, by implementing its goals 7, 12 and 15. It was also, and above all, aligned with Cameroon's National Development Strategy (NDS30), which values justice, the resilience of social systems, and good governance.

Beyond Borders
“The scope of the training extended beyond Cameroon’s borders. The Cameroon Bar Association brought together legal professionals present in several foreign jurisdictions. This is a valuable asset for compatriots in distress abroad - as illustrated by the recent return of migrants from Burma - often in need of local legal support. In this way, the Bar Association extended the sovereign action of the State. The Head of State himself encouraged this legal network in his vision of a Cameroon that protects its citizens, regardless of their place of residence,” the IOM head stressed.

Diaspora Contributions 
“Furthermore, members of the Cameroon Bar Association support investments made by the diaspora. And these investments, which Cameroon seeks to increase within a secure and attractive framework, require robust legal guarantees. We therefore wish to encourage a true virtuous circle between the diaspora, justice, and development.

Legal Capacity, Enhancing Stabilisation 
“It is essential to underline the broader role of the legal community in sustaining peace and facilitating safe mobility. Through the training, the Bar Association is not only strengthening national legal capacities, but also contributing to the stabilization of communities affected by conflict. By ensuring that safe spaces for victims of non-state armed groups and ex-associates are equipped with legal safeguards, we collectively build the foundation for sustainable peace. 

Future Stronger Partnerships 
“Moreover, this initiative laid the groundwork for stronger partnerships - notably with countries like Canada, whose strategic vision for Africa recognizes the centrality of inclusive governance, access to justice, and protection of vulnerable populations. By working together, we can ensure that justice is not a privilege, but a right accessible to all,” Abdel Rahmane Diop concluded.

Current Situation 
Cameroon has been facing complex migration challenges for several years, exacerbated by security crises in the Far North (since 2014) and the North West and South West regions since 2016. This population, including internally displaced persons, returnees, and migrants, faces precarious living conditions and increas...