Voluntary Return of Nigerian Refugees:Legal Framework For Operations In Place

The tripartite agreement signed yesterday in Yaounde between Cameroon, Nigeria and UN Refugee Agency provides guidelines for the refugees to return in safety and dignity.

Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon can now voluntarily return home. This follows the signing in Yaounde, yesterday March 2, 2017, of a Tripartite Agreement between the Republic of Cameroon, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon. René Emmanuel Sadi appended his signature on behalf of Cameroon, Lieutenant General (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau signed for Nigeria while Kouassi Lazare Etien, Resident Representative of UNHCR in Cameroon signed for his organisation in the presence of some members of government of both countries and diplomatic corps.
The Tripartite Agreement is a legal framework setting out the modalities for the voluntary return of refugees to their country of origin in safety and dignity. According to the agreement, parties agreed to provide refugees wishing to return with clear information on the security, economic and access to basic services situation prevailing in the areas of return particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in north-eastern Nigeria in order to allow them make informed and voluntary decisions.
The UNHCR Representation in Nigeria according to the agreement will continue to monitor conditions in the areas of return to ensure that once return operations are initiated, it is conducted in accordance with the tripartite agreement. The agreement stipulates that repatriation should only take place on a voluntary basis and that refugees who will not opt to return will not be forced to go back to Nigeria. A UNHCR survey conducted in September 2016 indicates that 71 per cent of the refugees expressed intentions to return as soon as the situation is conducive. Meanwhile, signatories to the agreement also established a Tripartite Commission charged to oversee the implementation of the agreement.
 

René Emmanuel Sadi: « Un comité de supervision sera créé »

Ministre camerounais de l’Administration territoriale et de la Décentralisation

« Cet accord fixe les obligations des différentes parties. En gros, pour le Cameroun, il s’agira de mettre en place les conditions nécessaires, afin que ces personnes rentrent chez elles en sécurité et dans la dignité. C’est une condition fondamentale pour leur rapatriement. Naturellement, le gouvernement nigérian aura la lourde responsabilité d’assurer le transport de ces réfugiés dans leurs villages respectifs, et de prendre des dispositions pour leur insertion dans la société. Après la signature, il y aura la mise en place d’un comité pour aller sur le terrain. Le comité sera composé de six personnes, savoir deux de chaque partie signataire».

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