Cypriot court rejects asylum appeal from Cameroonian national

An administrative court in Cyprus has dismissed the appeal of a 35-year-old Cameroonian national seeking international protection. The individual had entered government-controlled areas of the republic from the north on March 3, 2020, and subsequently filed for asylum. After his initial application was rejected by the Asylum Service on February 22, 2024, he challenged the decision in court, citing safety concerns in his home country.

In his testimony, the applicant claimed he was a former construction contractor in Cameroon who faced threats from both Ambazonian separatists and the national army. He alleged that he was kidnapped by rebels in 2019, detained and interrogated by the military, and accused by both sides of collaboration, eventually forcing him to flee. However, the court found his account inconsistent and lacking the necessary detail to be considered credible. Consequently, the court upheld the rejection of his asylum status, determining that he had failed to provide sufficient grounds to merit international protection in Cyprus.