Abstract

This paper examines the gender dimensions of land conflicts in the Fako region of Cameroon. It also aims to explore the specific perspectives, experiences, and actions of women in relation to the land conflicts in Fako. Data was collected through one on one interview with participants selected based on their experiences with land disputes in Fako. Findings reviewed that women owned land in Fako and were mostly acquired by purchase or through marriage though some traditional heads of the Bakweri land were of the opinion that traditional beliefs did not permit women to own land through marriages. Others were of the view that the world has evolved and in most family units and villages, women were given more priorities to land control as they are seen as natural mediators and are better responsible than some male children in the family. The researcher also discovered in the course of this research that, most of the land disputes happening in Fako are as a result of the land surrendering and land grabbing saga between fake traditional leaders/villages and government officials and has little to do with indigenous women who are actively working with their traditional heads as intermediaries of peace between angry indigenous population and traditional heads.

Introduction

The internship was carried out in an International Organization called the CED. The internship ran for a period of eight weeks. From the months of September to October. During this period, so many activities were carried out. In the paragraphs that follows, I will be highlighting all the activities on a weekly basis.

Organizational Structure

CED is located in Yaounde, and works across Cameroon, and other countries of the Congo Basin with its headquarters in Yaounde, Djoungolo.

CED has a total of 3 offices:

1. The Garoua office, which implements the ECONORCAM project, in conjunction with WCS and FODER, in support of land management around the Benoue National Park.
2. The Ngaoundéré office, which implements the REAL-GRNS project, carried out in conjunction with RELUFA and FODER.
3. The Yaoundé head office, from which all other activities of the organization are carried out, including research and conflict management activities.

Dr Apollin Koagne, Associate Legal Officer of the International Court of Justice (The Hague), and visiting professor in various academic institutions.

Dr Anatole Ayissi, Diplomat, Chief of Staff, United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), and  Senior Policy Advicer, Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution Division

Samuel Nguiffo, Secretary General of the Center for Environment, Expert in Natural Resources’ Conflict Prevention and Management

History of the Organization

The Centre for Environment and Development was set up in 1995 in response to the pressures on the environment, natural resources and community rights that had arisen as part of the implementation of structural adjustment programmes. The consequences of the transfer of forest rights and the privatisation of agro-industrial plantations for community rights and livelihoods had increased the number and intensity of conflicts over the management of land and natural resources, mainly forests. It has to be said that under the impetus of Cameroon’s partner development agencies, legislation on natural resources has undergone a process of reform, all aimed at making exploitation activities attractive. The forest was the first to go through this process, and the result was an intensification of logging, with little regard for the rights of communities. The Centre pour l’Environnement et le Développement (Centre for Environment and Development) then began to work on forestry issues, with the aim of contributing to the achievement of economic, social and ecological sustainability. It then turned its attention to extra-sectoral threats to the forestry sector: the construction of major infrastructures, mining and agro-industries.

WEEK ONE

The first week of the internship started with self-introduction of head of offices and other internees. The main supervisor, Dr Apollin Koagne gave a history of the organization and its major activities. He equally explained that the organization mainly dealt with environmental issues and had no activities for in the conflict department. A meeting day was chosen where he was going to invite other stakeholders of the organization to have a meeting with the internees. At the time of the internship there were four other interns with whom I will be working with. Four supervisors were assigned to myself and the other interns. The supervisors gave topics related to conflict resolution and land disputes as the major activity for the internship during which I was to show a mastery of the courses I had studied so far. I was assigned with a topic titled “The Gender Dimension of Land Disputes in Fako” during which I was to carry out an investigation to proof if most land disputes in Fako involved ones who women were the major actors or if women were victims. The findings of this research was to be written as an academic article which if found relevant , then will be published by the organization and humanitarian intervention could be given to victims if any.

After the task assignment, my supervisor advised I worked in collaboration with other interns for the data collection process. He equally gave lectures on how to carry out data findings on the subject matter. As per my topic, I had to interview traditional rulers, rural women and State authorities.

WEEK TWO

The second week ran from the 11th of September to the 15th of September 2023. The main activities scheduled for this week was to meet the other interns who lived in Buea and come up with a work plan which was a success. The main idea for this second phase was for everyone to understand what an academic article was all about and to fully understand the various parts and techniques in writing an academic article.

A series of research was carried out about the subject matter and a proper plan was written down on how the next phase which is the data collection and formulation of our different problem statements. All interns were to send their problem statements to the supervisors for approval before commencing the data finding proper. A week was given to carry out this activity.

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