18. While taking note of the steps taken by the State party on behalf of indigenous forest-dwelling groups, the Committee is concerned by the attacks on indigenous people’s land rights. It regrets that the land ownership legislation in force does not take into account the traditions, customs and land tenure systems of indigenous peoples, or their way of life. The Committee is particularly concerned by the abuse and assaults suffered by indigenous people at the hands of civil servants and employees of the national parks and protected areas. Furthermore, the Committee notes with concern that the course of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline has made indigenous populations more vulnerable and that only a small fraction of the Bagyeli indigenous population has benefited from the compensation plan (art. 5 (b) and (d)). 

19. The Committee recommends that the State party take urgent and adequate measures to protect and strengthen the rights of indigenous peoples to land. In particular, bearing in mind general recommendation No. 23 (1997) on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Committee recommends that the State party: 

(a) Establish in domestic legislation the right of indigenous peoples to own, use, develop and control their lands, territories and resources;  (b) Consult the indigenous people concerned and cooperate with them through their own representative institutions, in order to obtain their free and informed consent, before approving any project that affects their lands, territories or other resources, in particular with regard to the development, use or exploitation of mineral, water or other resources; (c) Guarantee indigenous people just and fair compensation for lands, territories and resources that they traditionally own or otherwise occupy and use, and which have been confiscated, taken, occupied, used or damaged without their free, prior and informed consent; (d) Ensure that the legal land registry procedure in force duly respects the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned, without discrimination; (e) Protect indigenous people against any attacks on their physical and mental integrity and prosecute the perpetrators of acts of violence and assaults against them.