As part of ongoing land reforms, Cameroon has made the approval of traditional chiefs mandatory for the registration or concession of land parcels larger than 10 hectares.
The measure was introduced through one of five circular letters issued by the Ministry of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure (Mindcaf) to strengthen the legal framework ahead of a new national land policy and a draft land tenure law currently under preparation.
The circular, dated December 26, 2025, requires a “letter of non-objection” or a “reasoned objection” from first-degree traditional chiefs before any request for land registration or concession involving more than 10 hectares can be processed.
According to Mindcaf Minister Henri Eyebe Ayissi, the rule grants traditional chiefs a strong role in protecting community land from excessive land acquisitions.
Speaking on February 27 in Yaoundé during a workshop presenting the reform instruments—developed with technical and financial support from German cooperation—Eyebe Ayissi said the government is also considering a cap on the size of land that can ultimately be granted to a single individual or company from the national domain.
The proposal responds in part to concerns raised by civil society groups and local communities about the allocation of large areas of land to private interests at the expense of local populations.
The government says the objective of the reform is to limit land grabbing, speculative acquisitions, and the large-scale appropriation of available land for nonproductive purposes, which officials say can undermine the public interest and effective management of national land resources.
For the minister, land should not be treated as an ordinary commodity but rather as a shared national asset, a strategic driver of development, and a key factor in social stability. Without adequate regulation, he warned, land disputes can easily emerge.
Compensation framework planned for traditional chiefs
The government also plans to clarify the issue of compensation for traditional chiefs involved in land allocation consultations, a long-standing gap in the system.
These chiefs participate in consultative commissions that review land allocation requests, but their work has often been hampered by limited financial resources, particularly for field visits needed to assess land claims.
Eyebe Ayissi said the effectiveness of these commissions depends heavily on the resources available to conduct field inspections. Such operations can be complex and costly, sometimes causing delays and misunderstandings related to financial arrangements.
To improve the functioning of these commissions, Mindcaf said it is preparing new regulations that will define compensation for their members. The payments will depend on the size of the parcel under review and the distance required for field inspections.
Another step in the land reform process is expected on April 1, 2026, when third-degree traditional chiefs will be authorized to issue provisional land certificates to applicants seeking land titles.
Ludovic Amara
