Repatriation of Cameroonians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) continues. This time, the government eased the return of 219 citizens, who arrived from Kuwait at the Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport in early June on a special Kuwait Airways flight, sources at the Ministry of External Relations (Minrex) reported.

They are part of the third contingent of Cameroonians to be repatriated. According to Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella, operations are underway for the return of more than 1,000 Cameroonians stranded in various countries. “The process of repatriation of the third contingent is underway and will continue throughout the coming weeks,” the minister said on June 4, at the weekly meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee in charge of evaluating and monitoring the implementation of the government strategy to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic in Cameroon.

Following the suspension of air links and the closure of national borders on 18 March, many Cameroonians were stranded abroad. A plan for adapted air transport, notably via Ethiopian Airlines, was put in place by the government to enable their return.

A total of 1,725 Cameroonian nationals have been repatriated by Ethiopian Airlines, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute said on 15 May. The first contingent of 795 Cameroonians returned home between March and April 2020. The second repatriation operation of 930 Cameroonians took place between 9 and 12 May.

This repatriation operation only concerns Cameroonians residing in Cameroon but who were in a temporary residence, at the end of their stay or in transit abroad on the date of the closure of the borders in mid-March. Like the previous passengers, the new citizens who arrived were taken care of per the health protocol in force.

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