Gouvernance foncière et développement rural : une analyse de la résistance des populations d’ambam au projet néo industrie (sud-Cameroun)

Abstract

The issue of land governance is a concern in most African countries and is therefore being investigated by researchers. Community land conflicts, malpractices in land transactions, injustices, abusive land expropriations and poor land management are problems raised by the land issue in rural and urban areas. Located in the South region of Cameroon, and in the vallee-du-Ntem division, Ambam subdivision has experienced a land ownership related conflict which has impacted on its rural development. The overall objective of this study was to figure out and explain the causes of the resistance of the traditional rulers to the project to set up a cocoa processing industry in Ambam. To achieve this, we identified and analyzed the causes of this resistance, explained the impact of the legal framework applied to land management in rural areas. We also analyzed and understood the issue of ethnicity in the resistance of traditional leaders. Specifically, the study aimed to highlight the discrepancy between land laws and the behavior of local populations. The methodological approach used in this study was the qualitative research approach, which is based on a set of techniques that aim at accessing the intangibility of social phenomena. To this end, data was collected through methods such as documentary research, direct observation, semi-structured interviews and content analysis, which enabled the field data to be examined. The theory of land tenure, the dynamic theory and critical theory of Georges BALANDIER were used to appraise the purpose of this study from a different perspective. The results of this investigation show that the land laws are obsolete in relation to the realities of the populations, the lack of land culture by the populations, the interference and confusion of roles between the State and the traditional rulers. In addition, the dual nature of property standards is the main cause of land conflicts in rural areas, particularly in Ambam Sub- division In view of this; decentralized land tenure management would be a necessity for land tenure conflicts mitigation as well as the participation of local populations in a rural development project involving the concession of their land.