More Than 52 CDC Palm Trees Destroyed by Muslim Community in Mutengene

More than 52 young oil palm trees have been destroyed at a Cameroon Development Corporation plantation in Mutengene, Southwest region, after members of a Muslim community entered the estate to clear land for the construction of a mosque, according to CDC officials.

The incident has sparked a dispute over the status of the land, with the CDC insisting that it has not been formally surrendered to the community and that the process for ceding company land was not followed.

The CDC Property Manager, Kebbi Ekwille, said the group involved in the occupation does not represent the recognized leadership of the Muslim community in Mutengene. Ekwille described the person leading the group as a “fake” leader who was allegedly usurping the authority of the community’s recognized chief.

He said the administration is aware of the leadership dispute but is surprised that the individual has continued issuing letters for land distribution, while presenting himself as a representative of the Muslim community.

He said the disputed land has not been formally ceded and that the group therefore had no authorization to enter the plantation and destroy the oil palms.

Productive Plantation at Risk

The CDC General Manager, Franklin Ngoni Njie Ikome said the affected area covers more than 13 hectares of productive plantation land.He added that the oil palms are about 10 years old and currently at a high-yield stage, making the area an important productive asset for the corporation. More than 52 young oil palm trees have already been destroyed. At an estimated value of 35,000 CFA francs per tree, the damage is worth at least 1.82 million CFA francs.

The general manager said surrendering the more than 13 hectares could leave 58 families without work or livelihoods linked to the plantation.“Thr CDC is the plantation and not the head office, medical office, not technical office,” he said, emphasizing that the disputed land is directly tied to CDC’s productive operations.

Mr. Ngoni, said the corporation cannot operate at 100% capacity in its other estates due to circumstances they cannot control. The only areas where they can work and revamp the coeporation are places like the plantation in Mutengene.

CDC Cites Land-Ceding Procedure

The CDC General Manager said there is a laid-down procedure for surrendering CDC land, including consideration of the strategic impact of any proposed transfer on the company and government.

He said the CDC Board of Directors also has a role in the process, depending on the strategic implications of the proposed surrender.

The GM said a 2020 decision by the Head of State stopped the surrender of CDC land and that the decision has not been lifted. Disregarding the procedure could frustrate efforts by the government and CDC management to revive the corporation, he added.

“Every action must be guided by law. Every action not guided by law is anarchy,” he said.

The CDC maintains that the mosque project must be pursued through the appropriate legal and administrative channels and that no community or individual can unilaterally take possession of productive CDC land.

The dispute remains unresolved as the Muslim community seeks land for the construction of a mosque while the CDC maintains that the disputed plantation remains under its control.

The application for the land was made in 2023, CNA learned , but since then the CDC has told them to wait.

The Sun Newspaper reports that that Muslims are planning to construct a Mosque to accommodate more than 3500 Faithfuls and also an IDP camp.