Advocacy for customary justice reform in Cameroon: What is to be done with customary law?

Abstract

This paper examines the declining fortune of customary justice in Cameroon and advocates measures aimed at reversing the tide.  At independence, Cameroon inherited most of the colonial policies in force on customary law. Gradually, and steadily, customary justice has become inconsequential. Awkwardly, modern state courts, essentially applying statutory law, have monopolized the  customary jurisdiction, and recourse to customary justice is often made to informal traditional courts now competing for legitimacy with state courts, thereby fragmenting the legal process. This paper challenges the current state of affairs and advocates the strengthening of the customary jurisdiction.