1. Mbuli Rene: Mphil in international Relations
Contact: mbuli2002@yahoo.fr Tel: +237 75 18 18 00
Paper submitted at the World conference of humanitarian Studies in February
2009 in Groningen (Netherlands).
Humanitarian crises and the management of Refugees in Central
Africa (A case study of Cameroon.)
Introduction
The phenomenon of refugees and displaced persons has been part and
parcel of humankind’s history from ages and the movement has
constituted one of mankind’s greatest social challenges to manage.
Conflicts, natural or man-made disasters as well as persecutions of
political, socio-cultural and religious order have been the major causes of
human movements within and across boundaries. Since the end of the
cold war and the new world order with monopoly replacing bipolarity, the
number of refugees and displaced persons have increased at
exponential rate due primarily to the changes in the security trend. The
African continent has witnessed more of intrastate violence in the post
Cold war period than the classical interstate conflicts and the civilian
faction has been the most affected group during such political events.
With the outbreak of violence, uncountable numbers of vulnerable
persons have had the tendency to move towards politically calm and
peaceful countries to seek refuge. The central Africa region commonly
described as a “hotbed “of fratricidal tensions has witnessed a greater
occurrence of the refugee phenomenon in the continent. Failed states,
dictatorship, mismanagement and unequal distribution of funds, social
injustice intense desire for democratic succession and power sharing as
well as the proliferation of small arms and lights weapons across porous

2. borders inter alia are reasons that have contributed to the persistence of
such “new conflicts” in the region. Cameroon as state within the region
enjoys “relative” peace and stability which many have considered to be a
great blessing. This calm environment has transformed the country to the
major pole of attraction for refugees and displaced persons circulating in
the region. The socio economic and political problems that have
accompanied refugee outflows and displacements which public opinion
have considered as a dysfunctional issue has made many to view
Cameroon’s peace rather than a curse. Against this backdrop, the
central interrogation in this paper is: What impacts and challenges
(“dysfunctionality”) have the Cameroon government faced due to refugee
influx in the country and how the “dysfunctionality” can be converted into
an asset. Other questions the paper shall address would be to know
what contributions the refugees have brought on the development of
Cameroon. What are the difficulties and challenges refugees in
Cameroon face in integrating the society? What are the consequences of
non-integration of refugees in Cameroon? The paper ends with some
recommendations or measures to facilitate the integration of refugees in
the Cameroonian society. The rationale in this paper is that if refugees
and displaced persons are not just a burden or source of security and
instability (dysfunctionality) as popular opinion holds, but that if well
managed, they could bring plausible socio-economic and political
contribution to their host country. The objectives therefore will be to
make concrete assessments on the above questions.
Conceptual framework
Within this research, principal concepts used include the followings:
Humanitarian crises and refugee.

3. A humanitarian crisis has been defined as an event or series of
events which represent a critical threat to the health, safety or
wellbeing of a community or other large group of people, usually
over a wide area.1 This paper defines it as a situation of social
anarchy and suffering marked by depreciation in the standard of
living to the point of threatening human life and wellbeing in a given
environment. The common determinant of a humanitarian crisis in
the context of this paper would be the presence of refugees and
displaced persons.
Refugee.
The convention relating to the status of Refugees (1951) under
article 1b defines a refugee as: any person who, owing to a well
founded fear of being persecutated for reasons of race, nationality,
membership of a particular social group or political opinion is outside of
the country of his/her nationality and is unable or owing to such fear is
unwilling to avail the protection of that country.2
In 1969 the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) adopted a
convention which defines a term of refugee beyond the 1951
convention and the 1967 protocol on refugees. It coined the
definition to fit the context of the African reality. In article 1 of the
convention, a refugee is defined as: every person who, owing to
external aggression, occupation foreign domination or events seriously
disturbing public order in either part or the whole of his country of origin
or nationality, is compelled to leave his place of habitual residence in
order to seek refuge in another place outside his country of origin or
nationality.3
All persons under such conditions have the full rights to seek
refuge in any other politically stable country while waiting for
situations in their home countries to get better. There is therefore a
major difference between a refugee and a migrant. Normal

4. migrants move across boundaries “voluntary” in search of better
economic standard; meanwhile refugees are forced to move
because of threat for their life.
Short presentation of Cameroon
The republic of Cameroon is situated in the central Africa region.4
She is commonly known as Africa in miniature because of her
cultural and geographical diversity. The political history of
Cameroon like many others African countries was marked by
bloody struggles for independence. This was one of the toughest
and most fierce moments of her history. The Union des populations
du Cameroun (UPC) a political party led by its charismatic leader
Ruben Um Nyobe waged a hostile resistance to French
colonialism and advocated immediate independence for
Cameroon. The party translated its disgruntlement through violent
riots and killings called “Maquis”. Thousands of Cameroonians lost
their lives during the period of “Maquis” that began in the earlier
1950s and only ended in January 1971 with the arrest and
execution of its last surviving leader Ernest Ouandie. In 1960
however the political evolution led to the independence of French
Cameroon meanwhile southern Cameroon (British part of
Cameroon) voted to join the francophone section in 1961 to form
the federal republic of Cameroon. It took the status of the republic if
Cameroon in 19845
The violence that marked Cameroon‘s independence helped to
shape the political attitudes of many Cameroonians. The craving
for peace has greatly contributed in making Cameroon the relative
peaceful country it is today. Despite the differences Cameroon had
with some of her neighbours such as Nigeria over the Bakassi

5. peninsular or with equatorial Guinea over an island at the mouth of
the Ntem river, peace still prevailed and Cameroon remained
politically and socially stable. Nonetheless the peace that was
hailed by many as blessing has been a pull factor for many African
fleeing wars and violence in their countries into Cameroon, well
known for her hospitality. Cameroon occupies the place of choice
for many refugees and displaced persons from the wider central
African ECCAS region 6 and this has become a call for concern.
Some Statistics on Refugees in Cameroon
Intrastate conflicts that hit countries in Africa have caused massive and
uncountable numbers of refugees and displaced persons in the central
Africa region. Cameroon, an adherent to both international (Geneva
1951 and 1967) and continental (OAU) conventions and protocols on
refugees has hosted thousands of refugees and displaced persons.
Cameron hosted approximately 60,000 refugees from different
countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo(D RC), Rwanda,
Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Sudan,
Liberia and Nigeria; with the highest group hailing from Chad numbering
about 200,000 during the violence of may 1980, and to about 40,000
persons in 1990,(Nkonlack,2003:15)7. Following the 2007 statistics
8
there were around 20 to 30,000 Chadian refugees in Cameroon
Though many left for Chad when things calmed down , recent clashes
between rebels and government troops of Idriss Deby in February 2008
saw more than 58,000 Chadian refugees fleeing from N’djamena into
neighbouring Kousseri9 town in Cameroon with over 30,000 living
without shelter. Today many have left Kousseri and are resettled in
Maltam and others in Mandana (all towns of north Cameroon). Many

6. who have extended families in Cameroon have moved to urban areas.
According to a United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees –
UNHCH (2008) press release on 14 February there are only about 5,000
10
refugees left in Kousseri region. Jacques Franquin, the Representative
of UNHCR in Cameroon revealed that Nigerians who fled ethnic clashes
since 2001 and settled in the Adamawa and north west11 region of
Cameroon numbered close to 17,000, though many left in April 2005
following the joint Cameroon /Nigeria /UNHCR voluntary repatriation of
10,000 Nigerians.12 In 2007 there were just about 3,000 Nigerians
refugees left after the repatriation. Those from the Central Africa
Republic mostly “mbororos” who fled the fighting and attacks from their
country since 2005 numbered approximately 26,00013 However, their
number has reduced drastically as many returned home after the relative
peace that prevailed in their country. Those present in Cameroon settled
mainly in the eastern region of Cameroon, predominantly around
Kenzou, Bertoua, Garoua Boulai and Batouri. Following the June 2005
urban refugees statistics, there were close To, 10.000 refugees living in
the capital city Yaoundé and 5 000 in the economic capital Douala
(Tadjon, 2003).14 Today, the number of urban refugees has risen to
15.318 due mainly to the continuous search for better survival
opportunities and the desire to meet with extended families living in the
urban zones. According to the December 2008 UNHCR Cameroon
statistics, there are in total 82, 776 refugees and 2 759 asylum seekers
in Cameroon; 62,919 settled in the Eastern and Adamawa regions, along
the CAR border. There are 2,871 Nigerian refugees in the Banyo area
(Adamawa region), meanwhile the recent violence of February 2008 in
Chad caused the movement of 4,236 Chadian refugees into the North
region of Cameroon15.

7. French-speaking (since most countries in the region are French-
speaking). There is from the statistics of persons of concern to UNHCR
in urban areas in Cameroon on table I below, it can be deduced that the
majority of refugees have hailed from the Central African region with
Chad Republic toping the charts. This is explained mainly by the
persistent domestic violence that has trapped the region since the end of
the Cold war. The recurrence of violence in Chad, DR Congo and the
Central African Republic (CAR) particularly hold this analysis true. The
high influx towards Cameroon has been almost spontaneous and natural
because she is first and foremost politically stable; a neighbouring state
(Chad and the CAR, Congo) and seemingly a rise in refugee influx in
Cameroon compared to the past. From an analytic viewpoint, the
statistics which have moved from 60 000 refugees in the 1980s and 90s
to 82, 776 in 2008 points a serious and growing domestic insecurity
problem in the Central African region. It seems like the region’s elites
(leaders) are retrograding politically when other nations (democracies of
the North) are moving forward. With such violence at a time of global
economic meltdown, it is doubted if most of the countries in the region
would achieve the Millennium development goals (MDGs) se for 2015
(this of course is another debate).
TABLE 1:
STATISTICS OF PERSONS OF CONCERN TO UNHCR PRESENT IN
THE URBAN AREAS OF CAMEROON

8. TOTAL
ASYLUM
ORIGIN REGUFEES BY
SEEKERS
ORIGIN:
CHAD 6 234 1 196 7 430
CENTRAL AFRICAN 3 516 905 4 421
REPUBLIC (CAR)
RWANDA 1 381 117 1 498
DEMOCRATIC 680 234 914
REPUBLIC OF
CONGO
BURUNDI 259 2 261
CONGO 150 12 162
BRAZZAVILLE
LIBERIA 86 13 99
SUDAN 79 9 88
IVORY COAST 52 139 191
EQUATORIAL 36 3 39
GUINEA
TOGO 17 11 28
ANGOLA 17 0 17
SIERRA LEONE 16 6 22

9. GABON 6 0 6
CAMBODIA 6 0 6
UGANDA 5 2 7
MAURITANIA 5 2 7
GHANA 4 0 4
NIGERIA 3 2 5
OTHER 7 106 113
NATIONALITIES
TOTAL 12 559 2 759 15 318
Source: UNHCR December 2008 refugee statistic report
Historicising the “dysfunctionality” of refugee influx on Cameroon
The Central African region has known uncountable moments of turmoil,
civil wars and strife. Since the end of the Cold war, there has been
growing global shift from state to human agenda and many statesmen
have been called upon to give considerable concern for the security of
individuals and persons be it nationals or foreigners within their national
frontiers.
As earlier mentioned, one of the reasons that attracted thousands of
refugees into Cameroon was the relative peace that reigned in the
country; Cameroon has always demonstrated great hospitality towards
refugees and displaced persons fleeing from wars and violence. Though
refugees are generally victims of violence and insecurity such as rape,
coercion, intimidation, and many other criminal activities (recruitment of

10. children into rebel militia, and kidnapping young girls for forced
marriages) while in the camps: they are almost unanimously considered
by many observers as a threat to the security (political and socio-
economic) of the local population and to the nation as a whole. There
exist substantial historical evidences to demonstrate Cameroon’s shares
of victimisation from refugee influx. These shall be analysed moving from
national and diplomatic insecurity to human insecurity perspectives.
History has shown that during an emergency, it is not all who flood the
borders of neutral countries in search of safety and shelter who are truly
“persons in distress”. Some armed militia-men sometimes manage to
trick their ways into foreign countries under the refugee cover and later
become trouble-setters. Cameroon’s national security was threatened in
the period following the Rwanda based in Arusha, escaped and sought
refuge in Cameroon. Following serious alert and search, Bicamumpaka
Clément Jérome (ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs), Mugiraneza Prosper
(ex-Minister of Public Works and Professional Development) and
Mugenzi Justin (ex-Minister of Commerce) were arrested by the
Cameroon government, kept in arbitrary detention at a criminal brigade
in Yaounde before being sent to the International Penal Tribunal for
Rwanda in Arusha for judgement (Amayena, 1999)16. If we recall the
violence which Hutu Rwandan interahamwé refugees exported to the DR
Congo after the genocide, it could be concluded that the presence of
these three individuals on Cameroon soil constituted a serious factor of
destabilisation and threat to national security.
Moreover, refugees and displaced persons have been a factor of
diplomatic instability between Cameroon and her neighbour Equatorial
Guinea. The dictatorial rule of Macias

11. Nugema in Equatorial Guinea in the late 1960s and early 1970s led to
the mass migration of over 30,000 Equatorial Guineans into Cameroon.
Amongst these persons who fled persecution from their country into
Cameroon were rebel forces who man, geld to penetrate the territory
with their weapons unperceived; facilitated by the porosity of the borders
in the Central African region. Cameroon in the long run was transformed
by the rebel forces of two principal opposition parties present in the
territory – MOLIFUGE and OLGE17 – into a ground for launching counter
attacks against Nguema’s regime between 1975 and 1977. From
Cameroon, they attacked areas like Afangui and Ntumadzap in
Equatorial Guinea (Koufan and Tchudjing, 2001)18. These activities had
diplomatic effects as they strained relations between Cameroon and
Equatorial Guinea, despite efforts by the Cameroon government of stop
the attacks (for example by expulsing the recalcitrant refugees). The
government of Equatorial Guinea continuously accused Cameroon of
supporting the subversion. Relations only normalised with the complete
expulsion of identified recalcitrant and dangerous elements amongst the
refugees. Such individuals and activities were very detrimental for a
developing country like Cameroon which strove to achieve its own
national interests while keeping to its continental commitments of non-
interference in states’ internal affairs and maintaining cordial relations
with neighbouring countries.
Human insecurity was also an impact of the influx suffered by Cameroon.
During the Chadian refugee influx in 1980, the population in Kousseri
rose from the normal 10,000 person to between 200 to 230 000
inhabitants, meaning that the refugee population in that area alone
exceeded 200 000 people (Bandolo, 1980)19. Faced with the increasing
number of refugees who crossed the River Chari into Cameroon, Samuel

12. Eboa, the then Secretary of state at the presidency and head of the
National rescue Committee for refugees, complained about the
insufficiencies in the aid package to the government from foreign donors
and other international bodies. Health wise, there was an increase in
epidemic diseases, measles, cholera and typhoid fever in the region and
a great shortage in vaccines and medicines in general.
Hospitals were full to capacity and the local inhabitants of Kousseri were
highly affected by epidemic (Ndembiyembe, 1980)20. A similar situation
occurred during this last influx in February 2008.
Access to food was very difficult. There was increased competition over
the scarce resources – food, water, land – between the refugees and the
local population that was ill prepared to face such a challenge but simply
placed before a fait accompli. This increased hunger and poverty in the
Kousseri area as commodities such as rice, sugar, millet, corn fish, and
meat became scarce. In the begriming, the first wave of refugees who
arrived was accommodated by the local population in their houses in all
hospitality knowing the conflict would be short lived.
But as the conflict persisted, the rising number of new arrivals became a
disturbance and source of conflict between the two groups.
In addition, the conflict in Chad was directly felt in Northern Cameroon.
Stray bullets and bomb shells that landed at the Kousseri hospital from
N’djamena caused the death of 4 persons and left 8 people wounded as
well as immeasurable material damages (Bandolo, 1980)21.
There were also reported cases of banditry and refugee aggression on
some local population as well as on some police officials. Some
aggression cases occurred mostly during the process of food distribution
in camps. With the rise in criminal acts, the government was forced to

13. beef up her police in the stations in Kousseri and also put up a landed
military group in case of any subversion. During the recent influx of
February 2008 for example, there was a reported strike manifestation
carried out by the refugees molested both UNHCR personnel, the
divisional officer of the Pitoa locality (found in the North) and wrestled
with gendarmes and the forces of law and order who were sent to calm
the situation. After seizing and destroying UNHCR and seven military
vehicles, the situation only got better after four days of serious
negotiation. In the end, three gendarmes (amongst whom the brigade
commander of locality of Garoua – in the North of Cameroon) and two
refugees were seriously wounded. According to the head of the Chadian
refugee community in Yaoundé, one Chadian refugee lost his life in the
clash22.
The burden of refugees on Cameroon
In the early years of independence, when the economies of African
countries where growing exponentially and there were limited numbers of
refugees and displaced persons; the spirit of African hospitality was at its
top. Many refugees enjoyed a wide range of facilities and consideration
in their host countries. But with the economic crises that hit many African
countries and the increased number of refugee influx into neutral
countries, the perception by the local population and authorities that was
masked in the past due to better living conditions was unveiled and
began taking a new shift. Hospitality was now being replaced by
disgruntlement. Many began perceiving the high presence of refugees
and displaced persons as a socio-economic burden on their government,
citizens and the country as a whole.
Any host country haven signed or ratified any of the international
instruments on refugees has the primary obligation to cater for the

14. refugees on her territory. Cameroon has always tried to live up to the
expectation of their international engagements. The government as well
as its citizens has always been first on the scene whenever such events
occurred. During the 1980 events in Chad for example which saw the
displacement of 230 000 refugees into Kousseri in Cameroon, the
government prepared a vast land where the various refugee camps were
built. Moreover, the government made available large quantities of food
such as: rice, sugar, millet, maize, oil, fish and meat as well as
emergency medical packages for the refugees while waiting for
international assistance. The Ministry of Health of Cameroon made
available a stock of medicines to the tune of 3,6 million FCFA (close to
5 500 euros) following the 2008 Chadian refugee influx into Cameroon23.
The continuous provision of such resources proved very costly for the
government as refugees kept flooding in an unexpectedly rate.
The government at some point had to send appeals for support even
from some philanthropic members of her society. Assistance brought by
the Cameroonian public in February has been equally remarkable as
many opened their doors to provide shelter and food to many refugees
who had no living space in the camps, churches and public schools
(3 000 lived at the college d’Enseignement Technique et Industriel de
Kousseri (CETIK), the majority being women and children)24.
The government in the past as well as recently has had to mobilise its
security forces to ensure the safety of the refugees from any attack
(Chad rebel militias for example) in the camps and to maintain general
law and order in the area. Elements of the General Delegation for
National Security and the National Gendarmerie were all placed in
strategic positions for emergency action. Other experts/specialists were
also mobilised to ensure the registration and identification of all displaced

15. persons, ensuring that they separate real refugees from normal migrants.
The services of all these specialists and professionals have been very
costly for the government. Another perceptible burden on Cameroon has
been the destruction of her ecosystem by the activities of refugees. For
example, the felling of trees for cooking energy or for commercial
purposes (the sale of charcoal) contributes to environmental
degradation.
The socio – economic and political contribution of refugee
presence in Cameroon
Many onlookers, policy-makers, scholars and general public opinion
have almost unanimously settled for the fact that refugees are a great
burden to the host country; failing Completely to look at the other side of
the coin. The non-negligible but almost ignored part played by refugees
in the development of Cameroon is caused amongst other factors by the
absence of research or study either by the government or UNHCR on the
issue. This paper tries to turn the camera on the possible and perceptible
contribution these refugees have brought and are still bringing to the
Cameroon social, economic, political and diplomatic domains.
Direct social contribution
Socially, evidence exists to show the valuable contribution or refuges in
the nation’s building. Amongst the many displaced persons who entered

16. Cameroon during the various turbulent moments were literate and
illiterate, skilled and unskilled refugees from the academia have taken an
active part in the education of many young Cameroonians. Doctors,
professors and ordinary teachers who managed to integrate themselves
in the society have greatly helped in the training of future administrators
and leaders of Cameroon. Unleashing their knowledge and expertise for
a pittance just to eke a mini mum living, refugees have all brought their
little contribution to the edifice. There are many examples such as
Salvador, a Burundian refugees teaching in a college in Dchang
(Western region of Cameroon); Domitil Nieligka Marie, a PHD student
from the Rwanda teaching Bio- chemistry on part- time basis at the
university of Yaoundé I; Mr Bizimana Jean Baptist, a Rwandan lecturer
who introduced the Banking Department at the professional Institute in
Yaoundé- Siantou Supérieur where many young Cameroonians where
trained on accounting, banking and finance and who today occupy good
positions in both private and state – owned banking institutions.25 Mr.
Bunane Charles also from Rwanda, former lecturer ; and worker at the
National Tourism Office in Rwanda before the genocide presently gives
lectures at the professional institute – Ndi Samba Supérieur in Yaoundé.
He does this cumulatively with his post Director of the institute. He has
trained many Cameroonians who today find themselves in the civil
service.26 Cameroon has benefited immensely from this “brain
circulation”.
Besides the academia, some work as interpreters, pastor and medical
doctors and all help in one way or the other in shaping the moral and
health of Cameroon society. Health wise, some of the health centres
which some groups, philanthropists or international organizations built
and equip with staff, medicines and drugs for the refugees are not

17. entirely consumed by the refugees alone. It goes way to benefit even the
local population who enjoy from such high quality treatments for the
improvement of their health condition. An example in point is the Centre
Medico- Social Henry Dunant (a gift from the Japanese government) set
up under the Cameroon Red Cross based in Yaoundé.
Direct Economic contribution
The vast majority of refugees present in Cameroon are unskilled. Despite
their status, their economic contribution is in no way small. Many driven
by their enthusiasm and desire to cut the umbilical cord liking them to
dependency have chosen to carry out small and income generating
activities. Many refugees cultivate different kinds of crops which benefit
even the local Cameroonian population. Rwandans are best known for
their “push fullness” and prosperity as revealed by the head of the
Chadian refugee’s community in Yaoundé. They are the community that
has succeeded to fully integrate the Cameroonian society. They own
provision stores, and sell local food to Cameroonians. Many Ivorian
refugees have also joined the informal sector. They are involved in small
trades like selling cooked food in restaurants and owning provision
stores, while others are into craftwork, sculpture and sewing/ in order to
run these activities, they have to buy the needed raw materials. More
than 90% of Rwandan refugees in Cameroon are into petty trade and
business while a few are into sector of services (education, medicine,
accounting and mechanic).27 The wealthier refugees engage in export-
import trade, they for example buy loin materials and jewelries from
Cotonu or Dubai to sell in Cameroon. For this, they have to pay custom

18. duties at the ports and borders to state officials, and the money enters
state coffers as well.28 Since a very small percent of refugees² send back
money to their home countries (probably due to continuous insecurity
and/or dysfunction in the system), these economic activities contribute to
increase liquidity and money circulation into the economy. Many pay
taxes to the urban councils Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and
Finance and to market officials which go straight into government coffers.
Wholesalers who run provision stores for example pay taxes such as:
• Trading License tax (patente in French) which varies depending on
the size of the business.
• Lease (Droit de Baile). Paid to the Urban Council yearly, this tax
varies between 35- 50 000CFA francs (Cameroonian currency). It
was initially suppose to be paid by landlords. It represents 10% of
the business structure. Mathematically, the formula is:
Rent x 20 =Lease
10
• The Sanitation tax paid yearly to the Ministry of Health which range
between 15 to 25 000CFA francs.
• Medical certificate which on paper is 9 000 CFA francs is being
paid on the field at 25,000 CFA francs. This money is paid every
six months to the council officials which is sent to the ministry of
health.
• Another market tax which cost 10,000 CFA francs is paid every 3
months to the Urban Council.
Based on the above statistics, if there are 1381 Rwanda refugees in
urban areas in Cameroon for example, with 90% into trade and petty
business, haven lived in Cameroon since 1994 after the genocide (14
years); then paying the sanitation tax only, 690 refugees (half total
Rwandan refugees in urban areas) running provision stores alone in 14
years have produced 241,500,000 (Two hundred and forty one million,
five hundred thousand) CFA francs. If the other taxes were to be

19. included in this calculation (for Rwandan refugees alone running
businesses), it will be discovered that refugees in the Urban areas in
particular and in Cameroon in general contribute enormously to the
county’s economic growth.
The presence of refugees increases the demand for goods and services.
Though many have seen their presence as an inconvenience because of
the food shortage it creates; economically, the phenomenon is
advantageous since it increases the economy by pushing both the
government and the entrepreneurs to create more infrastructures and
jobs that will increase the production or manufacturing of such needed
foods. The benefit comes in more because refugees consume less than
they produce (goods and services). These activities and businesses
undertaken by refugees have a fiscal effect on the economy. Apart from
trade and petty businesses, thousands of skilled refugees are simple
labourers who dig trenches, work farms for pay, work in building
constructions (building large edifices such as government ministries or
big commercial enterprises, industries, hotels, school), house helps, etc.
These refugees who most often are preferred by their employers
because their services are less costly than those offered by
Cameroonian citizens; help in no small way in providing the building
block in the advancement of development infrastructure and activities of
the country.
Indirect Economic Contribution
Besides the direct implication of refugees, their presence also brings
indirect advantages to the government. The very presence of the

20. UNHCR office in Cameroon, highly staffed by Cameroonians has helped
to reduce unemployment for Cameroonians. According to the 2008
statistics, UNHCR has recruited close to 35 Cameroonians- 21 in
Yaoundé office; 7 in the Bertoua office and 7 in the Garoua office.29
Recently in November 2008, some 6 more job vacancies were being
announced. More, as paid workers these Cameroonians pay taxes to the
state.
Moreover, processing the refugees documents (refugees cards, visas
etc) demand the direct implication of both the Ministry of External
Relation, the General Delegation for National Security and the frontier
police. These services are done freely for refugees but UNHCR pay for
them indirectly to the government. It is similar in the health and education
sector where refugees receive treatments freely in most hospitals such
as Police Hospitals, Centre Pasteur, Djoungolo Hospital all based in
Yaoundé. Some of these hospitals are state owned and UNHCR pays
the cost of the treatments. It also pays school fees of most registered
refugee children studying in schools, colleges and state universities.30 As
revealed by Jacques Franquin, the UNHCR Representative in
Cameroon, more than 910 pupils in the primary, 156 student from the
secondary and higher education benefited from scholarship and
bursaries from UNHCR in 2003 (Nkonlak, 2003).31 These fees when paid
represent much money for the economy. Despite the lack of statistics on
refugee contribution, this paper holds that if all the above evidences are
put together for analysis by economic specialists, the results would be
affirmative on the fact that the presence of refugees has valuable
contributed to the growth and development of Cameroon.
Political Contribution

21. Politically, the presence of refugees in Cameroon denotes some level of
stability and peace in the country. Hosting and protecting refugees helps
to boost the image of Cameroon in the face of the international
community. Cameroon is therefore seen as complying and fulfilling her
engagement taken at the UN financial bodies such as the World Bank
and IMF.
Diplomatically, Cameroon’s hospitality towards refugees and displaces
persons in the region has also helped to increase and strengthen
diplomatic ties with the home governments of the different refugee
communities in Cameroon. Countries such as Chad, Central African
Republic and DR Congo for example refrain from any political actions
that may jeopardize the relationship. Thus, maintaining friendship ties
becomes a form of manifesting gratitude for Cameroon’s actions towards
their displaced citizens.
Some Obstacles or Difficulties Related to the Integration of
Refugees in the Cameroon Society
There are a couple of hindrances or difficulties refugees face in the
Cameroon society. These are cause by the identity factor, society and
institutional shortcomings. The points listed below are not exhaustive but
will be a springboard to sort out further loopholes.
On the identity factor, many refugees find it hard to integrate the
society because of their refugee status. It becomes even tighter
because most refugees are uneducated, less educated or
unskilled. Refugees from Chad, the Central African Republic,
Burundi and even Ivory Coast face the problem of getting access to

22. some white collar jobs because of this setback. This explains why
many end up as labourers, small traders or work as night vigils
under insecure conditions and environments and with meager
salaries ranging between 30 to 50,000 CFA francs (about 50 to 100
dollars). Some cases of exploitation of refugees because of their
“less respected “status or identity have been registered. For
example, a Chadian refugee by name working for a security
agency “DAK Security” as an Interpreter for 15 years Ndoutabé
Ferdinand who after was fired and refused the right to his pension
benefits. All attempts to solve the matter ended at a deadlock just
because it concerned a refugee. The situation is similar for another
Rwandan refugee who worked for a traveling agency for close to 9
years. For the simple fact that he fell sick one morning and
absented from work for two days without permission, he was
immediately fired upon return.32 Such treatments render integration
very complicated as refugees constantly find themselves in search
of new jobs.
Concerning the social aspect, it was noticed that the negative
public perception of refugees poses a great problem of integration.
Although Cameroonians are generally hospitable, economic
constraints have pushed many to be less considerate towards the
“strangers”. This is mostly underpinned by the ideas that they
constitute a “fiscal burden” to the country and are “job usurpers”.
Often regarded as miserable paupers, desperate and unfortunate
underdogs, the clichés make it difficult to comprehend the fact that
refugees are not the cause of their unfortunate plights. According
to the head of the Chadian community, most refugees by the very
fact of their status find difficulties of being recruited when job offers
come up even if they qualify. This is because of the lukewarm
attitude most employers have concerning refugees, especially
when they present themselves with refugee cards33
Moreover, some refugees who have prospered economically often face
the problem of being confused and discrimination against and exploit
because of their status. They are often confused with other voluntary
expatriates due to their slight difference in accent and articulation;
leading to their being discriminated against. In the accommodation sector

23. for example, some landlords tend to increase the cost of rooms- to –let
under the erroneous misconception that “all foreigners” are loaded with
money.34 All these make the integration process very difficult.
Institutional wise, the government of Cameroon’s absence to set up a
committee to check refugee eligibility that can ease the recognition of the
refugee’s skills and access to the job market is a hindrance to
integration. Also, some refugees consider the slow processing of their
papers as a big problem since they are legally recognized as refuges
until the issuing of a refugee card (which acts as their residence permit).
Many therefore are scared to get into certain places or environments to
seek for jobs or other facilities because of the fear of being arrested and
maybe repatriated. Receipts issue to many refugees upon deposit of a
demand for asylum living in Cameroon could be a judicial cover to some
extent but cannot replace the refugee card itself.
Moreover, many refugees complain of constant police harassments be it
on the high ways as well as in the neighbourhoods. Many who find
themselves in public transport vehicles (taxis) during police checks are
often dropped down because of the presentation of a refugee card
(which is different from the national identity card they are used to
seeing). Many police officers sometimes claim either not to recognize the
document or insinuate that they are forged. Some refugees are directly
taken to the police stations for further questioning upon presentation of
the card. The unfortunate victims are kept for long hours and maybe
days under detention on such flimsy excuses just because of the desire
to squeeze a token or bribe before any release.35 Such harassments
increase the fear of movement amongst refugees and render the
integration process of refugees in the society more difficult.
Consequences of the Non- integration of Refugees in the Society

24. Refugee integration as seen above can produce very positive results. It
also reduces dependency on the state and international organizations by
helping the refugees themselves to be self- sufficient i.e. become able to
meet their basic needs (foods, shelter, healthcare ect) and those of other
members of their community. However lack of foresight to realize the
important albeit ignored contribution of refugees in the development of
the society and to ensure their full and unconditional integration can have
some negative repercussions on the country. Thought there may be
other consequences, the ones given below will help to throw some light
on the issue.
• Due to the difficulty of integration the society and getting a good job
or any other source of lively hood, many refugees (skilled and
unskilled, educated and uneducated) are most often transformed
into eternal beggars and dependents. Backed by hardship, the to
survive and to meet vital need which even the meagre subsistence
allowances given by the UNHCR cannot meet; many men and
sometimes woman are forced to embark on criminal activities-
theft, robbery, falsification of refugee cards and even travelling
papers reserved for refugees which they sell to Cameroonians
desiring to seek their lot in other countries.
• Many have flooded the streets of the capital Yaoundé and Douala
with their “begging dishes”, harassing passers- by and creating a
very uncomfortable social situation.
• Most women on their part engage in prostitution as the easier way
to get fast money. In order to ensure a good feeding, many have to
sell their bodies for money. This only helps to increase the rate of
insecurity and social instability in the country which greatly affects
the ordinary Cameroonians citizens. Prostitution further exposes
both the refugees and the Cameroonian to sexual transmitted
diseases and HIV/AIDS, leading to an increase in the prevalence
rate of the disease in the country. Following the 2003 estimates by

25. the United State Central Intelligence Agency. Cameroon harbours
more than 560,000 people living with HIV/AIDS with a death toll of
49,000.36 With increase social decadence, the figures are definitely
at a rise.
Proposed Recommendations to Ease Refugee Integration in
Cameroon: Actions by Government, Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs) and UNHCR
• Government should involve refugees in their Poverty Reduction
Strategy Plan (PRSP) and promote some community development
projects that directly benefit refugee communities and facilitate
their self- sufficiency and integration. These could both qualified
citizens as well as refugees without discrimination.
• Refugee women and children who are the most affected groups
during conflicts and displacements need greater attention from
government and UNHCR. Programs such as women’s
empowerment, peer socialization (Oucho,2002),37career oriented
discussions and vocational trainings for both women and refugee
youths, micro financing for small scale refugee women trades or
businesses etc. this will ease their self- reliance and reduce or stop
the dependence on their male counterparts who use the
dependency factor as ground to carry on domestic violence on their
women.
• UNHCR in collaboration with the Cameroon Red Cross (CRC) are
putting in enormous effect o to facilitate the integration of refugees
in the society by providing subsistence, micro- financing projects
and taking care of their education and healthcare ( although many
refugees complain that UNHCR mostly concentrate on small
illnesses as headache or stomach aches, while ignoring
complicated an expensive problems such as tooth ache,
complicated medical operation which are left for refugees to
handle). Despite these efforts, the support is never enough since
the numbers of refugees keep rising and the charges become even
heavier. As some of the successes for 2008 indicate, UNHCR has

26. supported 8 000 refugee children to access local primary schools
and distributed 3 000 school benches manual and UNICEF school
kits to schools hosting refugees; registered some 62 919 refugee
and included them in a database (02 registration operations in
2008); provided 17 742 adults refugees with UNHCR identification
documents; facilities access to education for 1,200 primary school
students, 140 secondary school students and 25 university
students. Despite financial support from the special budget of the
High Commissioner and the budget revision in April 2008,UNHCR
still faces enormous funding challenges to cater for the refugees in
and off camps.38 Adequate funding will help to improve for example
the food assistance towards refugees in Cameroon. Government
should therefore allocate some funds to support the efforts of these
organizations in order to better meet up with refugees needs and
facilitate their integration. It might be good to underscore here that
it is the primary role of governments to cater for the refugees on
their soil and international organization are simply there to support
and ensure the effectiveness of the actions.
• Many refugees have tabled the issue of frequent police harassment
which makes them feel excluded or strange in society which
professes hospitality. The Cameroonian authorities need to step up
measures aimed at restoring order within the police corps and put
an end to such unprofessional acts which are buttressed most
often by the high level corruption that haven eaten deep into the
fabrics of the society.
• CSOs equally need to play an active part in condemning corruption
and lobbying or advocating for the greater respect of the rights of
refugees and displaced persons in our country. a proper
dissemination of information on the authenticity and know how the
cards look like) would ease their recognition and respect for the
cards when they meet one.
• Another very good way to ease the full integration of many
refugees in Cameroon would be to facilitate their possibilities of
being notarized as Cameroonians for those who have stayed for a
couple o years in Cameroon and desire to dwell in such a peaceful

27. haven; far from the sounds of gunshots, grenades and bombs.
Many who do not wish to have an “eternal refugee status” in
Cameroon have complaint about this difficulty even after spending
more than a decade in the country. Their “smooth naturalization”
will also benefit them greatly as many qualified refugees would
have possibilities of postulating for job opportunities in the public
sector which are reserved only for nationals of the country. it would
equally limit their frequent clashes with the police since they will
henceforth carry with them Cameroonian identity cards like any
other citizen and be respected as such.
• The rights of refugees in Cameroon have more or less been baffled
because of the absence as a specific law pertaining to them. Ever
since the cry by the HCR for the Cameroon government to vote a
law on refugees in Cameroon, it was only in July 2005 that the
government took action. This bold step by the National Assembly
to adopt and the head o state ti promulgate the law outlines under
Art.9 of Chapter III the right of refugees in Cameroon which
includes: the right to non- discrimination, right to property, the
freedom of association, freedom of circulation, freedom to
naturalise, right to have access to justice, right to work, education
and accommodation.39
• However, it’s simple adoption would do no good to the refugees
since it would just be like “a gold in pig sty”. The government via
the head of state needs to sign the decree of application that will
ensure full operation and enforcement in legal framework. Until this
is done, refugees will continue to be discriminated against and
exploited in the labour market and the society in general.
• The Cameroon government in partnership with UNHCR and CRC
can jointly sponsor and carry out a research that focuses
essentially on the contribution refugees and displaced persons in
Cameroon have played in the socio- economic and political
development of Cameroon. Such research should centre on
refugee contribution in areas such as: per- capita GDP ( Gross
Domestic Product), balance of payments, employment
opportunities, government expenditures, production and
consumption, demand and supply, living costs and capital
accumulation and circulation. As best practice, a British Home
Office research that was carried out 2002 into the costs and
distributions of foreign- born people in the United Kingdom came

28. out with wonderful results. The research estimated that foreign-
born people (including refugees and asylum seekers) contributed
about 10% more in taxes than they consumed in benefits and state
services. Concerning their net fiscal contribution to the national
economy, it was equally found that they provided around £2.5
billion; meanwhile the UK Treasury Minister Ruth Kelly held that
the foreign- born population accounted for 10% of UK GDP in
2001.William’s own study revealed that immigration has a relatively
small impact on the balance of payment in the long- run; and that in
the longer term immigrants contribute enormously to government
revenues and the general well being of the economy
(Stevenson,2005).40 If a similar study was carried out on refugee
and displaced person’s contribution in the development of
Cameroon, the results would certainly be fascinating. Such
information can greatly alleviate the negative perception host
citizen have on refugees as well as accelerate government policies
towards alleviating the conditions, status and easing the integration
of refugees in the society.
• Government, CSOs and UNHCR should do much sensitization of
the public concerning refugees. The public should be educated on
the fact that refugees are normal people like them who happened
to fine themselves in such circumstances because o unfortunate
events in their countries; and they too could be victims of such
events. Moreover, the negative and erroneous conception that
refugees are a burden, a social pest should be wiped off by
showing the positive contribution of the refugee presence in
Cameroon. CSOs should organize seminars and workshops as
avenues to share ideas, experiences and approaches. Refugee
representatives could even given their experiences both on their
contribution and on the psychological pains they go through
because of negative treatments. These actions could even go
beyond seminars to bring included in school curricula which will go
long way to promote equal opportunities, the respect for difference,
end discrimination and stereotypes. If such values are imbibed in
the growing generation. Then we can be assured of better
treatment of refugees and displaced persons in future years. The
media. Especially community radios should equally be involved in
this endeavour since they are in close proximity to the population.

29. This will improve the perception of refugees from a liability to an
asset and ease their acceptance and intergration. In return. When
refugees feel accepted, they will quickly adapt to the society and
contribute to its development.
• When the economy is booming there are new jobs being created
both for the skilled citizens and the youths who graduate from
universities and professional institutions, no one will have a reason
to “scape goat” or throw “hot water” on the refugees. Every one will
then find his or her place to fit in and achieve not ony the personal
goals but also contribute to the development of the country. That
said, the government of Cameroon should conduct a “national
enquiry on poverty” in order to determine real working strategies to
put in place and effectively reduce unemployment and poverty
(Memunatu, 2005). Government needs to step up its anti-
corruption fight as well as to better tackle the problem of poverty
and unemployment.
Conclusion
There exist concrete evidences to show the great role refugees and
displaced persons, both skilled and unskilled, have played in the
development of Cameroon in particular, and the entire continent in
general. If attentions are tilted for a fraction of second to the fact that
great mind such as Albert Einstein, Claude Levi – Strauss in Europe;
Wole Soyinka from Nigeria or even Ngugi Wa Thiongo from Kenya were
all exiled at one point of their life, with the recognition of their impacts in
tose societies, it would be regrettable to delay or refuse giving such an
opportunity to the refugees in Cameroon to fell accepted and share their
intelligence, skills strength or character. Although nature or fate has
swept these fellows from their warmth in their home countries into an
uncomfortable situation, they nevertheless should be given a second
chance of survival and success through love, care, protection and
acceptance, unless the government of Cameroon effectively taps these
human resources that are put at her doorsteps thanks to the refugee

30. influx to benefit the country, she will only produce more social instability
and keep public perception of refugees focused on the negative idea that
they are a burden and source of threat and insecurity without noticing the
wonderful asset that they represent. Any proposal given above is just a
means to handle the outcome of an event. To effectively meet up with
the problem of refugees and displaced persons, we need to urge our
governments in general and all belligerences in particular to be more
democratic, transparent and to seek more political rather than military
solutions to their differences. It is no hidden fact that the greatest cause
of the displacement phenomenon especially in the Central African region
today stems from the persistence of intrastate violence. Until this is
understood and dealt with, most policy and decision makers would
simply be shunning and trying to solve a problem a problem while
constantly fuelling the machine that produces it.
1. 1Humanitarian crisis (Online). Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/humanitarian crisis (Accessed
December 06 2008).
2. UNHCR, 2007. Convention and Protocol relating to the status of
refugees. Geneva: Media Relations and Public Information Service.
3. The OAU Refugee Convention. (Online) Available at:
http://www.achpr.org/english/info/refugee en.html. [Accessed
November 30th 2008].

31. 4. Cameroon is bordered in the west by Nigeria; in the east by the
Central African Repubic (CAR), in the northeast by Chad
meanwhile Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Gongo
are her southern neighbours.
5. For Further readings on the history of Cameroon see – Ngoh, V.J.,
Cameroon 1884 – 1985:a hundered years of history. Limbe, Navi –
Group Publications, 1987.
6. The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) is
composed of Angola. Burundi, Central African Republic,
Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe.
This was done through the merging by UDEAC members, Sao
Tome and Principe and the members of the Economic Community
of the Great Lakes State (CEPGL established in 1976 by the D R
Congo, Burundi and Rwanda); while Angola silently observed until
1999 when she decided to join.
7. Nkonlak, R.J., 2003. Cameroun terre d’accueil ou terre d’écueils?
Les Cahiers de Mutations, No 051,p.15.
8. “Cameroon”. The World Fact book. United States Central
Intelligence Agency (CLA). [Online] Available
at:www.cia.gov/library/publication/the-world-factbook/geos/cm.html.
[Accessed 30 October 2008].
9. Kousseri is a remote and isolated border town in the North
Cameroon that is connected to N’djamena, the capital of Chad by a
small bridge over the Chari River which separates and acts like the
border between both countries. Kousseri is approximately 1.000km
north of the Cameroon capital Yaounde.

32. 10. UNHCR Press release, 2008. La France vient en aide aux
regugies Tchadiens au Cameroun. Protection Department, UNHCR
Cameroon.
11. It should be noted that Cameroon was initially divided into
provinces (ten in number). In 2008, a presidential decree changed
the appellation from Province to Region but maintained the same
number.
12. “CAMEROON-NIGERIA: Repatriation of Nigeria refugees to
start on Monday” [Online] Available at:
http.//www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=53930.[Accessed
November 26 2008].
13. “Aid sent to refugees in Cameroon”. [Online] Available at:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2007/08/200852511565859
6657.htm. [Accessed November 26 2008].
14. Tadjon C., 2003. Les réfugiés peuvent être un facteur
d’instabilité politique. Les Cashiers de Mutations, No 015, p,8.
15. UNHCR, 2008. Briefing note on UNHCR operations in
Cameroon. Protection Department, UNHCR Cameroon.
* UNHCR Cameroon, 2008. Urban Refugee Statistic report,
December 2008.

33. 16. Amayena, N., 1999. trios ex-ministres Rwandais transfere de
Yaoundé à ARusha. Cameroon Tribune, the National Bilingual D.
ily, No 6832/3121, p.3.
17. MOLIFUGE stands for Mouvement de la Libération et du
Future de la Guinée Equatoriale and OLGE stands for
l’Organisation de la Libération de la Guinée Equotriale.
18. Koufan, J. and Tchudjing, C., 2001. sur la voie de
l’intégration sous-régionale: Les Facteurs d’adhésion de la Guinée
Equotoriale à L’UDEAC… In: D. Abwa et al. (eds.), Dynamique
d’intégration régionale en Afrique Centrale, tome I. Yaoundé: PUY,
p.227.
19. Bandoleo, H., 1980. Réfugiés Tchandiens: situation
alarmante à Kousseri, Cameroon Tribune, the National Bilingual
Daily, NO 1784, p.1.
20. Ndembiyembe, B., 1980. L’insuffisance des secours
apportés aux réfugies Tchandiens est évidente. Cameroon
Tribune, the National Bilingual Daily, No 1794, p.3.
21. Bondole, H., 1980 Rtombées du conflit Tchadien. Cameroon
Tribune, the National Bilingual Daily.. No 1883, p.1.
22. Interview with Madjamra Samuel 54 years, Head of the
Chadian refugee community in Yaounde, 30 November 2008,
Yaoundé.

34. 23. UNHCR Press release, 2008. Rapport sur la situation des
réfguies tchadiens au Cameroun 9 février 2008. protection
Department, UNHCR Cameroon.
24. UNHCR Press release, 2008. Rapport sur la situation des
réfugiés tchadiens au Cameroun. Protection Department, UNHCR
Cameroon.
25. Interview with Sibomana André, 56 years, Pastor and Head
of the Rwadan refugee community in Yaoundé, 06 December
2008, Yaoundé.
26. Interview with Abuwe Mireile Charline, 24 years, Rwandan
refugee student and daughter of Mr. Bunane, December 03 2008,
Yaoundé.
27. Interview with Mugabo Innocent, 29 years, Rwandan, Expert
in Economic Policy Management, 14 December 2008, Yaounde.
28. Interview with Fofana Issa, 40 years, head of the Ivorian
community in Yaounde and business man, December 07 2008,
Yaoundé.
29. UNHCR, 2008. Briefing note on UNHCR oprations in
Cameroon.
30. Interview with Lienou Valerie, 27 years, Protection Clerk,
Protection Section, UNHCR Cameroon. 20 Nevember 2008,
Yaoundé.

35. 31. Nkonlak. R. J., 2003. Cameroon terre d’accueil ou terre
d’écueils?
32. Interview with Madjamra Samuel
33. Interview with Majamra Samuel
34. Interview with Fofana Issa.
35. Interview with Fofana
36. “Cameroon”. The World Fact book. CIA.
37. Oucho, O.John, 2002. Impact of African refugees on
development: why the silence on their contribution? Africa’s
Refugees. ACCORD Conflict Trends Magazine [Online]. Available
at: www.accord.org.za/. [Accessed 20 October 2008].
38. UNHCR. 2008. Briefing note on UNHCR operations in
Cameroon.
39. Law no 2005/006 of 27 July 2005 relating to the status of
refugees in Cameroon.

36. 40. Stevenson, R., 2005. Refugees and economic contributions.
In: Centre for Refugee Research, Hopes fulfilled or dreams
shattered? From resettlement to settlement conference.
November 23rd – 28th [Online]. Available at:
www.crr.unsw.edu.au/documents/Refugees%20and%20Economic
%20Contributions.pdf. [Accessed 26 November 2008].
41. Membeunatu, P., 2005. Conflict and the Millennium
Development Goals. In: Breaking with Business as Usual.
Perspectives from the Civil Society in the Commonwealth on the
Millennium Development Goals, London: Commonwealth
Foundation, p.75.