Cameroon court cancels 800 land titles
The Supreme Court's administrative chamber invalidated a 2005 land title and subsequent derivatives in Japoma-Bakoko.
The Supreme Court of Cameroon has cancelled 800 land titles in the Wouri department, specifically in Japoma-Bakoko. This decision, stemming from ruling n°079/P/FD/2025 by the Administrative Chamber, invalidates a 2005 land title (n°34535/W) and all subsequent derivative titles. The court's action nullifies a prior ruling from the Littoral Administrative Tribunal that had attempted to validate the original title from December 2020.
The Conservation foncière du Wouri « B » stated that copies of the cancelled titles are null and void. This ruling effectively returns the land to state ownership or restores prior legitimate rights, dispossessing current occupants. The case involved the administration and the village community of Japoma-Bakoko, represented by M. Moundi Isaac and others, and had been ongoing for several years.
Hundreds of families and economic operators in Japoma-Bakoko are now facing legal uncertainty. The land registry has published an extensive list of affected title holders, including investors and individuals who believed their properties were secure. This situation highlights ongoing issues with land title security in Cameroon, particularly in the rapidly expanding peripheral areas of Douala.
Why it mattersHundreds of families and economic operators in Japoma-Bakoko are now facing legal uncertainty regarding their property ownership.