Land tenure dualism and territorial conflicts in the Haute-Sanaga department (Cameroon)

Land disputes account for nearly 85% of judicial cases in Cameroon: Since the 1974 ordinance, land has become the central arena of tensions between the state, rural communities, agribusinesses, and politico-administrative elites. How does the dualism of the Cameroonian land tenure system, characterized by the coexistence of modern and customary law, contribute to the persistence of territorial conflicts in the Haute-Sanaga department? Drawing on stakeholder theory, as well as theories on the commons and polycentric governance, land tenure mastery, and new institutional economics, this article analyzes the cultural dualism of the land tenure system in Haute-Sanaga based on fieldwork conducted between 2021 and 2025. It documents parallel land transfer mechanisms, systemic elite capture, multiscalar conflicts, and the SOSUCAM case brought before the French OECD National Contact Point. It concludes, on the criteria of justice, development, and security, that responsible land governance is needed, building on the 2024 Land Tenure Week recommendations and the April 1, 2026, reform.