Amid rising insecurity in Middle East: Gov’t announces measures to assist Cameroonians voluntarily return home.

In a statement issued recently, the diplomat said Cameroon’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia will provide emergency travel documents to citizens whose passports have expired, allowing them to return home if they wish.

Ambassador Iya Tidjani disclosed that the decision comes in response to the ongoing war and the serious security threats affecting much of the Middle East. 

He said Cameroonian nationals living in affected countries, whose passports have expired, are encouraged to request the travel documents from the nearest diplomatic or consular mission based on their place of residence.

He called on citizens living in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, UAE, to contact the Cameroonian Embassy in Riyadh.

Those residing in the Saudi cities of Jeddah, Medina, and Mecca, he said, are advised to reach out to the Consulate General of Cameroon in Jeddah, while those in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, can contact the Consulate General in Dubai.

The embassy said the emergency travel documents will be issued free of charge in order to facilitate a possible return home amid growing regional instability.

The decision from the Ambassador comes not long after warnings were issued by Cameroonian authorities as the security situation in the Middle East deteriorates. 

In a statement released on March 1, 2026, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in Charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, urged Cameroonian in the Middle East to exercise the highest level of vigilance.

The release had urged Cameroonians residing in the affected countries to respect alert protocols, adhere to shelter directives, comply with movement regulations and observe any temporary restrictions introduced by host governments to guarantee public safety.

The statement followed reports of increased hostilities in parts of the Near and Middle East, where military operations and aerial bombardments have heightened security risks. 

In to the statement, the ministry emphasised the need for nationals abroad to remain calm and exercise self-control during the current period of instability. 

It also called on members of the concerned Cameroonian communities to heighten their vigilance in response to the evolving security environment.

The ministry further instructed citizens to maintain regular contact with Cameroon's diplomatic missions and consular posts in their respective countries of residence. 

This, it stated, would enable authorities to monitor the situation closely and provide necessary assistance where required.

It should be noted that tensions in the Middle East peaked following massive US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered retaliatory missile barrages across the Persian Gulf, targeting US bases and commercial hubs. With regional airspace closed and hostilities spreading into Lebanon and Yemen, the area has transitioned into an active war zone.

This article article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3734 of Tuesday March 17, 2026