International Refugee Law and the Principle of Non Refoulement: Revisiting the case of Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and Co vs The People of Cameroon

This paper examines the principles of international refugee law, with a particular focus on the non-refoulement principle as the main pillar of international protection against the forced return of individuals to countries where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. This principle is enshrined in Article 33(1) of the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention and reaffirmed by various regional and international human rights instruments. This paper critically examines the highly contested case of Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and others v. the People of Cameroon, in which leaders of the Anglophone separatist movement who had sought refuge in Nigeria were allegedly arrested by Nigerian authorities in January 2018 and refouled to Cameroon. On the basis of an analysis of legal scholarship and case law, this paper examines the circumstances surrounding the abduction or arrest of Sisiku and Co. This paper also explores whether the actions of the Nigerian and Cameroonian governments constitute a violation of the principle of non-refoulement and other commitments under international law (legality of arrest). Finally, legal and institutional reforms are recommended to improve adherence to international refugee protection standards not only in Africa but also throughout the world.