The Ministry of Domains, Cadastre and Land Affairs in Cameroon issued a ministerial instruction on March 16, 2026, detailing new rules regarding the operation and financing of the Consultative Commission, a key element in the process of registering state lands. This text aims to clarify and streamline land registration procedures, particularly with regard to the financial aspects of field missions.
The Consultative Commission, which operates at the level of each arrondissement and is appointed by the competent prefect at the start of each budget year, plays a central role in the registration process. It is made up of administrative authorities, technical services, sectoral representatives, traditional authorities and local notables, thus reflecting a desire to combine technical expertise and knowledge of the field. The commission's responsibilities are vast and include the organization of rural space, the provision of opinions on concession applications, the management of land disputes and the verification of land development.
One of the main innovations of this ministerial instruction is the codification of fees related to the operations of the Consultative Commission. From now on, the applicant for land registration will have to bear the costs related to the Commission's travel and work. The allowances of the members of the commission are now clearly defined, with harmonized flat-rate and daily amounts, while taking into account access constraints and distance. In addition, the costs associated with objections will be borne by the challengers, with penalties for non-payment.
A grid has also been put in place to determine the number of mission days based on the area of the land, with the aim of avoiding abuse and ensuring better predictability of costs. Cadastral work will be subject to a prior quotation, a prerequisite for any field visit. Procedures are clarified, in particular with regard to the signing of minutes and the traceability of payments, which must now be made by bank transfer.
The ministry hopes that these new rules will help to clean up practices, speed up the processing of files and strengthen land security, as well as user confidence in a system often perceived as opaque. The entry into force of this ministerial instruction is scheduled for July 1, 2026, thus leaving local administrations time to adapt to these new provisions. These measures should sustainably structure the management of the Cameroonian national domain. According to the Ministry of Domains, Cadastre and Land Affairs, less than 2% of land in Cameroon was registered in the early 2000s.
These new measures are part of a broader land reform context in Cameroon. In March 2026, the government made the approval of traditional chiefs mandatory for the registration or concession of land parcels larger than 10 hectares.
