Compliance and Breach of Non-refoulement Norm by the Cameroonian Authorities against Nigerian Refugees in the Conflict-ridden Far North Region of Cameroon, 2010- 2019

This paper looks at the extent to which Cameroon conformed to Articles 33 of the 1951 Refugees Convention of non-refoulement which led to the influx of Nigerian refugees in the Far North Region, orchestrated by violent extremism by the Boko Haram Islamic Sect. It argues that, Cameroon complied to the non-refoulement norm by providing assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), providing settlement sites and free education to refugees, providing counseling and legal assistance, as well as water, sanitation and security services. The findings reveal that, the lack of a historical consensus on fanatic acceptance of non-refoulement obligation, as an international refugee customary law, resulted to the breach of the non-refoulement norm by Cameroon State authorities. This was followed with the forcedful return of Nigerian refugees to the Nigerian-Far North Regional borders and forced repatriations between 2016 and 2019 against the Abuja
Tripartite Agreement (ATA) of 2017 that was signed by Nigeria, Cameroon and the United Nations Refugee Agency. However, this paper based on primary and secondary sources, concludes that, the forceful repatriation of Nigerian refugees and asylum seekers by Cameroon Security Forces has strained relations between Cameroon and Nigeria.

Keywords: Compliance, Breach, Non-Refoulement, Conflict, Nigerian Refugees, Cameroon.