How secure are land rights in Cameroon? A review of the evolution of land tenure system and its implications on tenure security and rural livelihoods

Tenure security provides incentives for sustainable land uses practices, long-term investment, and positively affects rural livelihoods strategies and poverty reduction. However, tenure insecurity is globally a critical issue for most of the poorest. This paper analyses the evolution of the land tenure system in Cameroon from precolonial era to nowadays and discusses the implications on tenure security and rural livelihoods. Outcomes reveal that since the colonial era, though widely used by communities, the customary rights over land have not been recognized and protected; the State owns all lands while all users are tenants; land titles are the only legal means to claim land ownership; only few land titles have been delivered; the procedure for obtaining a land title is often unknown, gender neutral and excludes the poorest; and land titles are not trusted and do not always provide tenure security. Besides, the current legal framework presents several loopholes that favor tenure insecurity and negatively impact people socio-economic and cultural conditions. Therefore, policy reforms are needed to recognize and protect customary rights to land and improve the overall governance of land resources.