THE CDC MUTENGENE–FAKO LAND CRISIS: LOCAL AUTHORITIES MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

THE CDC MUTENGENE–FAKO LAND CRISIS: LOCAL AUTHORITIES MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

From the outset, I call upon the Governor of the South West Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, to use the moral authority associated with the title of “Chief of Chiefs,” bestowed upon him in Manyu Division, to protect the ancestral lands of the Fako people. A traditional honour must carry a responsibility to defend communities, preserve peace and uphold justice—not remain a ceremonial decoration.

I equally remind the Senior Divisional Officer of Fako that he has a clear legal and administrative obligation to protect Fako lands, maintain public order and prevent unlawful occupation. His duty is not to supervise land grabbing, provide administrative cover for it or permit armed officers to intimidate lawful landowners. His obligation is to enforce the law impartially and preserve peace.

This is how we understand the situation:

1. The decision of the President of the Republic protects the interests of the Fako people.

2. The appeal before the Supreme Court requires restraint and respect for the judicial process. No authority should take irreversible action while the dispute remains before the courts.

3. The Prime Minister has recognised the legitimate rights and concerns of the Fako people.

4. The actions of the Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure support the protection of those rights.

5. The CDC administration has reportedly defended the integrity of CDC land and acknowledged the legitimate interests of the host communities.

6. The CPDM hierarchy has expressed support for the rights of the Fako people.

Why, then, are some local administrative and security authorities allegedly behaving as though they are more powerful than the Presidency, the Prime Minister, the Supreme Court, the responsible ministry and the CDC itself?

The reported use of administrative power, armed security personnel and intimidation to facilitate unlawful or disputed land occupation is unacceptable.

Guns do not create land titles. Uniforms do not cancel court proceedings. Administrative authority is not a licence to seize ancestral or public land.

We therefore place every competent local authority on public notice: any official who authorises, facilitates, protects or deliberately ignores unlawful land occupation must be investigated and held individually accountable, in accordance with the law, for any violence, destruction, injury, loss of life or breakdown of public order that follows.

The people of Fako must remain peaceful and pursue every lawful remedy available. But their restraint must never be mistaken for weakness or surrender. Peace can survive only where justice, legality and lawful authority are respected.

The central question is now unavoidable:

Will President Paul Biya enforce the decisions and institutions protecting Fako’s rights, or will he close his eyes while local administrators and security officers allegedly enable land grabbing under the protection of guns?

If peace is breached in Fako because officials refused to respect the law, responsibility must not be shifted onto the victims. It must be traced directly to every individual who issued the orders, executed them, provided armed protection or knowingly looked away.

Fako ancestral land must be protected. CDC land must not be parcelled out unlawfully. Judicial proceedings must be respected. No administrator is above the law.

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