UNHCR in 2017, some of them benefitted from the clause of exemption until 2020 while a list of 724 persons who applied for an alternative status was forwarded to Government by the UNHCR who also promised to provide financial support to the operation. Government proposed the following 3 options to Rwandan refugees: first, stay in Cameroon as a foreigner and obtain a resident permit; second, return to their country, and third, obtain naturalization. The UNHCR has promised to finance the issuance of resident permits. 123-The principle of voluntary return of refugees was respected. A tripartite agreement was thus signed between Cameroon, the UNHCR and Nigeria on 2 March 2017. The number of refugees who spontaneously returned to their country of origin cannot be determined because they leave the country freely without reporting their departure. However, 4,300 refugees expressed their desire to benefit from the voluntary return programme within the framework of the tripartite agreement referred to above. Although the Agreement with the Central African Republic was still under negotiation at the end of 2018, out of the 215 urban refugees, 88% voluntarily returned to their country of origin in dignity and under proper security with the support of the UNHCR. D: Protection against Collective Expulsion and Compliance with the Law on Expulsion of Persons 124- Law No. 2005/6 of 27 July 2005 relating to the status of refugees in Cameroon raises the principle of non-admittance of persons who apply for asylum and of non-criminalization of their illegal entry contained in section 8 (1). The benefits of this provision were granted refugees or asylum seekers whose capacity was notified to the authorities concerned by the HCR after proceedings were initiated against them. 125- In this regard, only cases of individual expulsion concerning persons illegally resident in Cameroon were registered, in this case, after court proceedings or after verification of their status. 126- With regard to the Nigerian population living in the Bakassi Peninsula (REC. 31), it should be noted that since Cameroon obtained sovereignty on the Bakassi Peninsula on 14 August 201369, it has continued to enforce international commitments, in particular the Greentree Agreement signed in 2006. In this connection, it refrained from applying its customs law and the immigration law on Nigerians living in the peninsula and shuttling between Nigeria and Bakassi to carry out their agricultural and fishing activities among others. They continue to benefit from land ownership, and enjoy more school, health and security services compared to the services they enjoyed during the occupation of the peninsula. 127- However, from 14 August 2013, Nigerians living in the peninsula are requested to apply for resident permit or Cameroon nationality. Besides, since 2015, they are bound to abide, as all nationals, by the national laws and regulations including payment of taxes and charges for those who carry out commercial activities. Section 12: Right to participate in the Management of Public Affairs (Article 13) (Rec 19) 128- The State developed the national legal framework to guarantee the right to participate in the management of public affairs, in particular concerning the equal access of citizens without 69 Bakassi, with an area of 1000km2, rich in crude oil, gas and water resources, was at the centre of conflict between Cameroon and Nigeria since 1994 and the International Court of Justice entered judgment for Cameroon in 2002. Since the Agreement of 14 August 2008 according to which Nigeria formally handed over the territory to Cameroon authorities, the Bakassi peninsula was placed under transition administration, negotiated by Nigeria and Cameroon under the supervision of the United Nations Organization to facilitate the establishment of Cameroon Administrations. 27