The presentations provided an opportunity for participants in the Parliament-Government dialogue to pursue enriching discussions, during which they identified a number of shortcomings at the level of: land policy in Cameroon, the legal system with certain texts that are old and obsolete, and land grabbing with serious social consequences that are now a well established fact.

Please download the Final Communiqué

From 11 to 12 June 2013 Parliament building in Yaounde, Cameroon, was the venue of the Parliament-Government Dialogue on the issue of land reform in Cameroon. The meeting was organized by the Network of Parliamentarians for Sustainable Management of dense and humid Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPAR) with support from the following technical and financial partners: GIZ, IUCN, RRI.

The meeting whose overall objective was to foster a framework for exchanges and discussions between the Government and the Parliament around the issue of land reform, aimed to inform ongoing reflection on the land reform process in Cameroon through proposals and recommendations that will inform, inspire and enlighten the Cameroon Government.

Several political figures and experts were present at this important meeting, namely: Senators, Parliamentarians, mayors, members of the Diplomatic corps, international organizations, traditional leaders, Academia, Researchers, representatives of civil society, of indigenous peoples and a large delegation of parliamentarians and Gabonese Senators.

Three key events punctuated this important gathering.

The opening ceremony:

Under this item, the speeches delivered by Honourable Jean-Jacques ZAM, the REPAR Coordinator, the Minister of State Property and Land Tenure, Her Excellency Jacqueline KOUNG A BESSIKE and Honourable Hilarion ETONG, the first Vice-President of the National Assembly, representing the President who was held up elsewhere, identified the demographic, social, environmental and economic stakes revolving around land issues in Cameroon, and the need for legal and institutional reforms of state property, involving all stakeholders to help Cameroon get onto the path towards emergence by 2035.

Presentations and debates in plenary session:

Through a series of presentations, participants were educated on the following topics: the history of ordinances of 6 July 1974; issues and challenges of land governance on a global and regional scale, the ownership regime and land management institutions in Cameroon, the issue of access to land, tenure security and protection of specific segments of society, conflict and land dispute resolution and new land governance in Cameroon.

The presentations provided an opportunity for participants in the Parliament-Government dialogue to pursue enriching discussions, during which they identified a number of shortcomings at the level of: land policy in Cameroon, the legal system with certain texts that are old and obsolete, and land grabbing with serious social consequences that are now a well known fact.

These observations and weaknesses gave participants the opportunity to formulate a set of recommendations for a land policy that protects the interests of the State and its people.

The closing ceremony:

Participants simply expressed their gratitude to the President of the National Assembly, the Right Honourable Cavaye YEGUIE DJIBRIL, to the Minister of State Property and Land Reform, Her Excellency Jacqueline KOUNG A BESSIKE and development partners for their multifaceted support for this initiative.

On this note of satisfaction, the participants parted ways.

More details are available in the final communiqué below:

Please download the Final Communiqué