Indigenous rights make headway in Cameroon

The Baka, one of the indigenous peoples in Cameroon have confirmed exercising their rights of access to the protected areas in the East region of Cameroon.

This group represented by the coordinating bureau of their association, ASBABUK, made the declaration September 25 2025 in a meeting in Bertoua, headquarters of the East region.

The meeting brought together some administrative officials of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and other stakeholders involved in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Baka Community and the government of Cameroon.

The declaration is heart warming to Civil Rights groups including the Green Development Advocates, which has been at the forefront over the years, advocating the rights of indigenous communities to have access to their ancestral forests lands as well as the natural resources contained within. 

It is hoped that this development amplifies across the other indigenous and local communities whose means of livelihood are largely dependent on the forest lands which are not only used for economic purposes but also for spiritual and psychological enhancement.