Biden administration grants temporary protection to Cameroonians in the US.
Following intense and relentless lobbying by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the diplomatic services of the Interim Government of Ambazonia led by Dr. Samuel Ikome Sako, the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas granted immigrants from Cameroon temporary protection in the United States on Friday April the 15th, allowing them to remain in the country for 18 months and apply for work permits. This is very good news for the thousands of Southern Cameroonian Ambazonian refugees who have fled the ongoing conflict recently and found temporal safety in the United States of America.
Since Cameroon launched a war of genocide against the peoples of the Southern Cameroons – Ambazonia, characterized by atrocities, war crimes and widespread persecution by security services, Ambazonians in the United States, led by the Interim Government have been working tirelessly with US elected officials, Senators, House of Representatives and other stakeholders to push for this decision. By offering Ambazonians, and by extension Cameroonians Temporary Protected Status (TPS) the United States implicitly recognizes the persecution and atrocities that our brave people are going through in their legitimate quest for Self-Determination. This is contrary to the spurious claims by the Cameroon government that peace has returned to our areas under occupation and annexation.
The decision however applies only to those who have been living in the United States as of April 14, making them eligible for temporary protected status (TPS), which typically benefits undocumented immigrants and those with visas that are set to expire. This is based on a 1990 immigration law that authorizes DHS to grant protection to people from nations experiencing war, natural disasters, and other extenuating circumstances. Amongst one of the reasons for granting TPS to Ambazonians and Cameroomians, the DHS cited the years-long armed conflict between the country’s English-speaking minority and French-speaking majority.
Since the war erupted in 2017, hundreds of thousands of displaced Southern Cameroonians lack access to critical services such as health care and education, leading to a himantarian crisis, causing tens of thousands to flee to Nigeira and other counties as refugees, and casuing millions of internally displaced person. In his decision, the Sec. for Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas stated that such conditions make it unsafe for Cameroonians to return home. “The United States recognizes the ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon, and we will provide temporary protection to those in need,” he said in a statement.
He further stated that “Cameroonian nationals currently residing in the U.S. who cannot safely return due to the extreme violence perpetrated by government forces and armed separatists, and a rise in attacks led by Boko Haram, will be able to remain and work in the United States until conditions in their home country improve.” It should be noted that recently, refugees from countries like Sudan, Haiti and Ukraine have also benefitied from the TPS provision. DHS estimated Friday that approximately 11,700 Cameroonians will be eligible to apply for the protection.
It must also be noted that the designation takes effect immediately, and applicants must pay a fee and clear background checks. While the temporary status offers a measure of stability for Ambazonians in the US fleeing persecution and violence from Cameroon security forces, many of whom have been in limbo for years, the beneficialries will still have to apply for permament stay in the United States at some point in time. Meanwhile, the Interim Government continues to lobby and to work with US elected officials to obtain permanent refugee status to all Ambazonians currently living in the US. Rest assured that the Interim Government has your best interest at heart, and continues to work for you until Freedom comes.
Secretary of State, Anthony Biden has also stated that the United States government will like to see an end to the war and suffering going on now in the Southern Cameroons, and that the United States government is committed to ending the ongoing violence.
