Cameroon has introduced a new requirement giving traditional chiefs a decisive role in the registration of large land parcels, as part of a broader reform of the country’s land governance framework.
Under a circular issued on December 26, 2025, by the Ministry of State Property, Surveys and Land Affairs (Mindcaf), any request to register or obtain a concession for land larger than 10 hectares must now include a letter of non-objection—or a reasoned objection—from first-class traditional chiefs.
The measure forms part of an ongoing reform process expected to culminate in a National Land Policy Document and the finalization of a new land and state property law in Cameroon.
According to Minister Henri Eyebe Ayissi, the reform grants traditional authorities a strong prerogative intended to protect communities’ living spaces from excessive land acquisitions.
Speaking at a workshop in Yaoundé on February 27, where the new instruments were presented with technical and financial support from German cooperation agencies, the minister said the government was also considering placing limits on the size of land that can ultimately be granted to a single individual or company.
Such limits would apply after the stages of provisional and definitive land concessions, a move partly driven by criticism from civil society organizations and local communities who have denounced the allocation of vast areas of land to private actors.
The government says the goal of the reform is to curb land grabbing, speculation, and the large-scale appropriation of land for nonproductive purposes, which officials argue undermine public interest and the effective management of the national land base.
Eyebe Ayissi stressed that land should not be treated as an ordinary commodity but as a shared national asset, a strategic lever for development, and a key factor for social stability. Without adequate regulation, he added, land disputes can easily emerge.
Compensation framework for traditional chiefs
The reform also addresses the long-standing question of compensation for traditional chiefs involved in land allocation committees.
These chiefs participate in consultative commissions responsible for reviewing land allocation requests, but their involvement has often been hampered by the lack of financial resources needed for field inspections.
The minister acknowledged that the effectiveness of these commissions depends heavily on the logistical and financial resources available to carry out field visits. Such operations can be complex and, without proper funding, sometimes lead to delays or misunderstandings.
To address the issue, the ministry said it is preparing a regulatory text defining compensation for members of the consultative commission.
The planned payments will depend on the size of the land parcel concerned and the distance required for field inspections.
As part of the broader land reform process, another measure will take effect on April 1, 2026, allowing third-class traditional chiefs to issue provisional land certificates to applicants seeking formal land titles.
Ludovic Amara
