Law No. 2005/006 of 27 July 2005 Relating to the Status of Refugees in Cameroon: An Additional Hurdle or a Major Step Forward to Refugee Protection?

Abstract

Cameroon adopted a law defining the legal framework for refugee protection in July 2005, which entered into force in November 2011. This article examines the Act’s rights framework and the process of refugee status determination under it, and analyses those rights guaranteed by the Act to asylum seekers and recognized refugees. Particular attention is directed at understanding the compatibility between the 2005 refugee law and international refugee and human rights instruments to which Cameroon has acceded. In so doing, this article argues that the guarantees of 2005 refugee law have not yet been fully implemented in Cameroon. As a way forward, the article will proffer recommendations to strengthen the enforcement of the 2005 refugee law. The methodology adopted for the purpose of this research is a doctrinal method. The doctrinal research involves the analysis of statutes, case laws, text books, articles, opinions of jurists and internet materials.

Keywords: Refugees, asylum seekers, Cameroon, international refugee protection, the 2005 refugee law, Refugee Convention, OAU Convention, UNHCR.