Intertribal Land Conflicts and Implications on Development in Balikumbat Sub-Division, North West Cameroon

Abstract

The quest for scarce land resources in Balikumbat Sub-Division has created rivalry over abundant borderland resources between some five villages for over four decades (1980s-2020). To diagnose this issue, this paper focuses on inter-tribal land conflicts and its implications on the development of Balikumbat sub division. The study seeks to identify and spatialize the different zones/villages in Balikumbat Sub-Division where inter-tribal land conflicts are inherent in a bid to examine the causes of these conflicts so as to assess its implications on the development of this municipality. The methodology used entailed field observations, questionnaires administration, interviews and focus group discussions. Existing literature provided an important starting point for further analysis of the extent of the problem under consideration. The findings have un-earth the fact that the main inter-tribal land conflicting hot spots constitute areas rich in fertile soils. Besides, economic motives, long historical legacies, political and social motives are the leading causes for the scramble over fertile farmlands across some village boundaries in Balikumbat Sub division over time and space. The implications of these conflicts are felt mainly in the socio-economic sector. The agricultural sector ranks first with about 50% drop in agricultural output as large parcels of land are left idle due to entrenched conflicts. The peasant populations have been displaced with massive destruction of property, crops, livestock and even lives. The efforts made by the government and these local communities in the past to resolve these conflicts have yielded very little success because conflicts have remained a common idiosyncrasy as they resurface often. These findings suggest the need for intensive sensitisation to the natives of Balikumbat on the importance of owning land certificates. This may limit verbal and traditional land ownership opening flood gates for a more sustainable land ownership.