A circular dated February 20, 2026, marks a turning point in land management in Cameroon, by increasing the involvement of traditional chiefdoms in the recognition and securing of land rights. This initiative introduces two new administrative instruments: the Attestation of Recognition of Customary Land Rights (ARDFC) and the Attestation of Peaceful Enjoyment of Exploited or Residential Land (AJPTER).
The ARDFC aims to recognize the existence of customary land rights held by a community, a family, or members thereof. The AJPTER, on the other hand, certifies the peaceful and continuous occupation of land by an individual. The issuance of these attestations is entrusted to third-degree traditional chiefs, reinforcing their role in identifying and regulating land use.
This circular is part of a series of normative texts aimed at regulating the recognition of customary rights. These texts include the decree of April 23, 2008, relating to land use and construction, as well as circulars from 2022, 2024 and 2025. These circulars address the prohibition of attestations of abandonment of customary rights, the involvement of traditional authorities in registration procedures, the institution of the Certificate of Possession of Administratively Recognized Customary Land Rights, and the requirement of a letter of non-objection from the traditional chief.
The ARDFC and AJPTER aim to establish the existence of customary rights and facilitate the issuance of letters of objection or non-objection in land procedures. They also contribute to the work of the consultative committee during registration operations and assist the departmental delegate of the Ministry of Domains, Cadastre and Land Affairs. These attestations are useful for protecting vulnerable populations, identifying operators in the event of expropriation, and georeferencing parcels.
The procedure for issuing these attestations includes several steps, including informing the population, publicizing to neighbors, submitting an application to the traditional chief, and establishing an ad hoc committee to verify the land situation. This committee visits the site to verify occupancy, check for disputes, and georeference the parcel. A record of agreement is then drawn up between the applicant and the neighbors, accompanied by a map of the land.
The ARDFC is intended for customary communities, family communities or their members holding recognized customary rights. The AJPTER concerns individuals of Cameroonian nationality occupying a plot of land for at least five years under peaceful conditions. These attestations may only be issued for land in the national domain that is already occupied or developed. After receiving the file, the traditional chief has fifteen days to examine the application. If the checks are favorable, the attestation is signed and given to the applicant within an equivalent period.
By entrusting a central role to traditional chiefdoms, the Cameroonian State seeks to improve the traceability of customary rights and bring land administration closer to local realities. Ultimately, this development could help reduce land disputes, which are particularly numerous in rural and peri-urban areas.
