On December 29, 2020, Cameroon ratified the migration agreement between the Government of the Republic of Cameroon and The Swiss Federal Council, signed on September 26, 2014.
This Agreements sets out to define the migration terms between Cameroon and Switzerland. Some of the provisions include:
- Facilities for nationals of Cameroon and Switzerland who wish to enter and reside in either territories.
- Promotion of the respect of the human rights of migrants who have not regularized their stay in said countries. In this regard, the agreement aims to ensure that in the event of repatriation and reintegration of irregular migrants, this will be done in a manner that respects human rights.
- Following on from the aforementioned, the Agreement sets out measures to be taken in the event of return of nationals. These measures include grant of financial assistance where return is based on medical grounds, grant of financial assistance where the relocation is for individual projects, payment of return expenses for registered returnees, subject to certain formalities or criteria.
With the ratification of this agreement, Cameroon will also be in position to check clandestine emigration, thus strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Cameroon and Switzerland.
Given both countries are members of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), with French as a shared language, this ratification is a step in the right direction. This is especially so given that migration matters play an important role in bilateral cooperation.
Author: Vanessa Halle
Date published: January 20, 2021
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