Douala residents left homeless after disputed land demolition

DOUALA, Cameroon (CNA) — Over 200 families in Douala are facing homelessness after their homes were demolished on Thursday by agents acting on behalf of a land ownership claimant.

The demolition, which took place in the Cimètière-New Bell neighborhood of Douala II municipality, targeted a large plot of land where residents say they have lived for over eight years. The disputed land is claimed by Mme Endelle Nee Bidja, who residents accuse of exceeding designated boundaries and demolishing a college and a school in a previous incident.

“We have everything buried under the rubble,” lamented one woman, who said she lost important documents and all her belongings in the demolition. “This land was bought with our hard-earned money. We didn’t steal it.”

Residents claim ownership rights based on documents from King Bell, the historical leader of the Douala people. Mme Endelle, however, belongs to a different clan and is accused of fabricating ownership of the land.

“In 2017, she showed documents claiming the Minister of Land Tenure granted her land in Bonadivodo,” said Nouissi Antoine, a resident. “When she arrived, she demarcated beyond the designated area and returned later to demolish Collège Mandom and Ècole Marie Rose. We appealed to the District Officer, who confirmed she had no right to demolish.”

Neutatine Thèophile, another resident, questioned the legitimacy of Mme Endelle’s claim. “She says she’s reclaiming property for another woman named NGOCK, who lives in the Bassa clan, while we are here in Cimètière-New Bell, a different area altogether.”

With heavy rains lashing Douala for nearly a week, many displaced residents are now facing the additional hardship of sleeping outdoors.

“We weren’t even informed about the demolition,” said one victim. “This is cruel. We’ve lost everything.”

The incident has caused outrage among residents, who staged protests demanding justice while the demolition was underway.