1. MBOSCUDA’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM &
PROMOTION OF LAND RIGHTS FOR MBORORO
PASTORALISTS OF N.W CAMEROON.
MBORORO PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY
LAND RIGHTS THROUGH COURT ACTION.
By Barrister Robert Fon,
Legal Consultant, MBOSCUDA
CAMEROON

2. Map of North West Province of Cameroon in
Africa
Africa Cameroon North West Province

3. Mbororo-Fulani pastoralists in
NW Cameroon
• Mbororos entered Cameroon from 1905
• Considered as strangers by local farmers
• Remote communities with pastoralist traditions
• Low levels of literacy & awareness
• Non-engagement with state agencies
• Severe social exclusion & Land rights issues
emerged from this context

5. Land rights context in NW Cameroon
• Conflict between cattle herders & crop farmers
• State persecution & exploitation
• Seek for quick solutions to problems (corruption)
• Marginalized due to their origin, culture and
lifestyle
• 1990 Freedom of Association
• Human Rights principles enshrined in Cameroon
laws (liberty laws)
• 1992 MBOSCUDA created as a cultural
organisation

6. Access to Justice & land Rights
• Pioneering legal literacy in NW Cameroon
– Access to justice & legal representation
– Advocacy with government agencies, within
communities, and wider Cameroonian society
• Unique approach to creating access
– Extensive research in Mbororo communities
– Providing legal advice and representation at point-of-
need in communities
– Challenging Social Exclusion project

8. Project Design & Implementation
• Psycho-Legal Extension Model (An alternative paradigm
in challenging social exclusion).
• Use of psychology & law to fight for Human Rights
• Psycho-Legal Counsellors trained and functional in 7
Community advised and assistance offices opened in all
7 divisions of N.W.P
• REFLECT
• Community education
• Social drama
• Legal representation
• Assist in registration of lands

9. Resolving land conflicts
• Over 400 farmer / grazer land disputes
dealt with through conflict resolution
• 14 cases of Mbororo registration of land
for permanent development
• Set legal precedent (now common) of
challenging misapplication of legislation by
government departments and law courts

11. Tackling State Persecution
• Taking government officials to court for
violations of people’s rights
– Brigade Commander of Misaje,
• Challenging powerful people who have
learnt how to exploit a corrupt system of
government
• Represent Human Rights victims in court

12. Alhadji Baba versus Sabga
Community
• 1987 Alhadji Baba opened the Elba Ranch
in the N.W.P Cameroon with more than 70
Mbororo families and 10,000 cattle
displaced without compensation.
• 2002 Alhadji Baba bought 3 tea estates
from government.
• Elba ranch transformed to a tea estate
• Encroachment into entire Sabga
Community grazing land.

15. Land Conflict
• Sabga youths destroyed Alhadji Baba’s
structures in their encroached land.
• Usman Haman arrested by Gendarmes and
severely tortured in Alhadji Baba’s residence.
• Other Mbororo youths were arrested including
MBOSCUDA President
• Musa Bure was shoot by Gendarmes but did not
die
• Arrested youths were detained in Bafoussam
prison.

20. Court Action
• Action for bail instituted
• 4 Mbororo youths charged with
destruction, arson, criminal trespass and
possession of firearm in the Bafoussam
Military Tribunal
• Mbororo youths convicted to 10 years
imprisonment and to pay Alhadji Baba
1,500 pounds
• Judgment appealed against.

21. Court of Appeal
• North West Court of Appeal discharged and
acquitted 4 Mbororo convicts.
• Alhadji Baba defeated in Court for the 1 st time
• Sabga community grazing land was secured as
court ordered Alhadji Baba to quit
• The judiciary can be used to protect and enforce
land rights for pastoralists.
• More than 50 Land Rights cases successful in
court to protect and enforce Mbororo pastoralist
land rights.

22. Outside Court of Appeal

23. Thank you for Listening
Any Questions?