Traditional rulers hence authorized to issue provisional land certificates
The Cameroon Supreme Court
has sounded the alarm over the management of land tenure in the country, calling for probity and respect for the law in the process
This call was made during the solemn opening session of the judicial year 2026, its representative, Fonkwe Joseph Fongang, who delivered a scathing assessment of the dysfunctions undermining land administration.
Speaking before several members of the government, including Minister Henri Eyebe Ayissi, the senior magistrate denounced the repeated withdrawals and reinstatements of land titles, sometimes carried out within a matter of days, creating troubling legal uncertainty. He also pointed to the existence of forged documents and the questionable extension of certain administrative decisions to derivative titles, without a clear legal basis.
The highest court further expressed concern over practices akin to expropriations carried out for private interests, even though Cameroonian law permits such measures only in cases of public interest, and subject to prior and fair compensation.
Another major source of litigation is the multiple allocation of the same parcel of land to different beneficiaries, and even the issuance of several land titles over a single property. For the Court, this “cacophony” undermines land security and calls for urgent reforms to restore the credibility of the rule of law.
Traditional rulers hence to issue provisional land certificates.
Meanwhile starting April 1, 2026, the Cameroon government now allows third-degree traditional chiefs to issue provisional land certificates for portions of national land.
In a circular dated February 20, Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure Henri Eyebe Ayissi introduced two documents intended to establish “initial proof of the occupation or exploitation of a parcel of national land by the applicant.”
The two documents are the Certificate of Recognition of Customary Land Rights (ARDFC) and the Certificate of Peaceful Enjoyment of Land (AJPTER). According to the circular, the ARDFC and AJPTER are “intermediate documents in the process of obtaining a land title, which is the official certification of real estate ownership.” Their introduction is described as part of an effort to align national practices with international standards in land governance.
The ARDFC is intended to promote land rights of customary communities, family groups and their members. The AJPTER seeks to strengthen protection of land occupation and use rights for individuals actively exploiting the land.
Issuance Assigned to Third-Degree Chiefs
The ministry specifies that these certificates will be issued by third-degree traditional chiefs within national land located in their areas of jurisdiction. One objective is to strengthen the role of traditional authorities in preventing and resolving land disputes involving national land.
The measure also aims to provide customary communities, family groups and land occupants with provisional instruments recognized by traditional authorities, confirming customary possession or peaceful enjoyment pending, where applicable, completion of the formal land title process.
Eligibility Conditions
Customary communities, family groups or their members, as well as holders of customary land rights, are the only parties authorized to request an ARDFC for national land they occupy or exploit.
The AJPTER may be requested by Cameroonian nationals who have demonstrably developed the land and who reside within a customary community, family group or village. It requires at least five years of proven development and peaceful occupation or use.
The minister stresses that these certificates apply only to occupied or exploited land classified as first-category national land. Vacant land, land free of occupation, or land that has not been developed is excluded.
Through these new instruments, the government says it intends to safeguard the vital space of customary communities by initiating a land security process while preventing disputes. The measures are also designed to strengthen recognition and protection of customary land rights for occupants, users and land developers.
