Le régime juridique des étrangers au Cameroun

B) Obligations of the HCR

Under the terms of its statute, the HCR must take care of the application of the International Conventions relating to the protection of the refugees. We make a point of specifying as a preliminary that the national representation of the HCR is Office of the High Commission of the United Nations for the refugees of Africa Centrale in Cameroun. Among the 60.000 refugees who belong to his mandate, approximately 17.000 are Fulanis of Nigeria accommodated since the year 2001^145(*). Moreover, we count about 39.642 Chadians who are especially in the towns of Garoua, Yaounde and Douala^146(*). We note, moreover, a certain regression of this number because, at December 31, 1999, the HCR counted 44.600 Chadian refugees^147(*). Considering the particular case of these two national groups, we wonder about the quality of the service rendered by the representation of the HCR in Cameroun. Indeed, April 15, 2005, the refugees whose Nigerians in particular, besieged the HCR in Yaounde. They claimed better living conditions^148(*) and wanted to thus draw the attention of the national and international public opinion. Despaired in front of the incapacity of the national authorities to solve their problems indeed, they revolted against the international structure especially elected to deal with them.

The HCR must, indeed, ensure the elementary needs for the refugees in order to contribute to their blooming ; they have a pressing need for real assistance while waiting to be able to be caught personally charges some because they cannot, obviously, being eternally assisted^149(*). Also we wonder about the role of the HCR in front of the repeated violations their rights. That this institution for éradiquer makes the exploitation of the taken refuge children exploited in the plantations in the North of the country ? This revêt question an interest certain bus the HCR is not unaware of that the Convention on the rights of the child is important for the children taken refuge because of the almost universal ratification of the treaty^150(*). It is regarded besides as a powerful instrument of defense of the rights of the taken refuge children^151(*). Moreover, the whole of the personnel of the HCR is encouraged to use it bus in all the aspects, Convention requires the respect of the higher of child and^152(*) prohibited interest, in the case of species, its exploitation.

The vastness of the evils that do not cease meeting the refugees in Cameroun, gives the impression which the HCR is not worried. Moreover certain refugees divide the same opinion. On a purely illustrative basis, ten graduate Chadian refugees, for the majority and, however, under mandate of the HCR, live in a hamlet lost in the middle of the Cameronian forest towards the road of Mbalmayo. They affirm being « conscious of misery in which they live and decided to take in hand their destiny »^153(*).

Thus, it is not only the State of asylum which is in question. The HCR also carries a share of responsibility in what we can describe as « violations of the rights of the refugee » in Cameroun. However, in spite of the evils which it meets, the refugee is less to feel sorry for that the stateless person.

* ¹⁴⁵ Review the Messenger, COp Cit.

* ¹⁴⁶ Chadian review Laltchad presses, COp Cit.

* ¹⁴⁷ Office of the High Commission of the United Nations for the refugees, the refugees in the world  ...  , Op.Cit, pp. 316-318.

* ¹⁴⁸ Radio France International, April 15, 2005. ( www.rfi.fr).

* ¹⁴⁹ DEGNI-SEGUI (Rene), COp Cit, pp.229-251.

* ¹⁵⁰ 166 States left to this Convention in August 1994.

* ¹⁵¹ Office of the High Commission of the United Nations for the Refugees, the children directing refugee-principles concerning protection and the assistance, Geneva, HCR, 1994, p.19.

* ¹⁵² Office of the High Commission of the United Nations for the Refugees, the children directing refugee-principles concerning protection and the assistance, Op.Cit p. 28.

* ¹⁵³MBAÏNAYE (Bétoubam), File: Chadians of Cameroun, second part  : «  they are undertaking  », IN Chadian Review Laltchad presses, 09/02/2004. ( http://www.ialtchad.com/dossiertchadiensducameroun2.htm)