Amidst growing land disputes in Cameroon, President Paul Biya has ordered an investigation into land allocations surrounding the Olembé sports complex. This emblematic infrastructure, built to host international competitions, finds itself at the heart of a controversy linked to the illegal occupation of parcels of land.
An official correspondence dated March 9, 2026, from the Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic, was addressed to the Minister of Domains, Land Registry, and Land Affairs. This document relays presidential instructions demanding the reconsideration of all administrative decisions that allowed individuals to occupy land belonging to the sports complex. The main objective is to preserve the land integrity of this strategic infrastructure and put an end to occupations deemed irregular.
This decision comes as Cameroon faces a resurgence of land conflicts, both in rural areas and in major cities. These disputes often concern the occupation, allocation, or transfer of land, fueling social tensions and legal proceedings. The Olembé sports complex, intended to be a symbol of development, is not immune to this reality.
The construction of the Olembé sports complex has already been marked by controversies, including accusations of embezzlement and legal battles with construction companies. Local communities, such as the Yanda community, claim to have been expropriated from their ancestral lands without adequate compensation. The Paul Biya stadium in Olembé, inaugurated in 2022, was the scene of a tragic stampede that caused the death of eight people.
The presidential decision to review land allocations around the Olembé sports complex reflects the government's desire to strengthen discipline in the management of public land and limit the abuses that fuel land conflicts in Cameroon. It remains to be seen whether this measure will sustainably resolve the land issues related to this infrastructure and ease tensions with local populations.
