Supreme court orders release of detained Cameroonian asylum seeker

On March 4, 2026, the Supreme Court of Cyprus ordered the immediate release of a Cameroonian national who had been in detention for six months. The individual first applied for asylum in 2019, with a rejection occurring in 2024. Following an arrest on July 3, 2025, for residing in Cyprus without valid documentation, a deportation order was issued. The man filed a second asylum application on July 20, 2025, which remains under appeal at the International Protection Administrative Court after its September rejection. A second detention order was issued on August 21, 2025. The Supreme Court ruled that while the initial detention period was reasonable, the authorities failed to demonstrate due diligence in pursuing the deportation process. Consequently, the court held that the continued detention was no longer justified as substantial steps toward deportation had not been evidenced. The authorities had argued the detention was reasonable and lawful, while the applicant contended it was illegal and that he was not adequately informed of the reasons for his custody.