8
Members
Working towards these commitments
Secure Tenure Rights
Strong Small-Scale Farming Systems
Equal land rights for women
Secure territorial rights for Indigenous Peoples
Locally-managed ecosystems
Inclusive decision-making
Transparent and accessible information
Effective actions against land grabbing
Protected land rights defenders
HOW OUR MEMBERS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO CHANGE
FULL REPORT ON THE CHANGE ILC MEMBERS HAVE MADE IN CAMEROON
Country context
Land Rights in Cameroon
Major land governance problems being faced in Cameroon
Cameroon's land tenure system is currently governed by a legal framework established in 1974, which has not undergone any significant reform and is no longer adapted to the current context.
The land tenure regulation is characterized by several legal loopholes that prevent it from meeting the needs of various vulnerable groups, such as indigenous peoples and women in certain communities, especially among the rural poor. These gaps are also largely responsible for the increasing incidence of land conflicts, which are on the rise. There is also pressure from large local and foreign investors and speculators, who take advantage of the current state of land governance to "capture" large tracts of arable land at the expense of rural communities living in poverty and other vulnerable groups.
Many communities feel systematically uprooted from their land because of the inadequacy of the current land governance system, which has failed to defend their interests and protect their land rights.
Since 2011, Cameroon has initiated a process of studies and exchanges that should lead to the reform of land laws. This ongoing process is a unique opportunity to resolve difficulties related to land tenure and to create a favourable environment for sustainable development.
