Dibombari: Socapalm Returns 2,500 Hectares to State

Socapalm (Société camerounaise de Palmeraies) has officially returned over 2,566 hectares of land to the State. The announcement was made during a meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, where land registry services presented a definitive report on boundaries at the Dibombari site. The report, initiated by Socapalm, clarifies a significant shift in land holdings. From an original concession of 11,210 hectares, the company’s footprint in the Dibombari subdivision has been refined to 8,643 hectares. The specific area returned to State control, calculated at 2,566 hectares, 93 ares, and 49 centiares, results from extensive efforts to enhance the density of boundary markers and precisely define active exploitation zones. The meeting, chaired by the Senior Divisional Officer of Mungo, Stephane Ndjana, gathered administrative authorities, traditional rulers, local elites, and community representatives. This inclusive approach is part of a broader strategy Socapalm has pursued since 2017 to resolve land disputes. “This voluntary return of unexploited land reflects Socapalm’s firm commitment to transparency”, stated Barbara Lienoue, the company’s Communications Manager. “We aim to permanently resolve misunderstandings and tensions that have historically clouded local relations. This is about shared and responsible development.” While the local population largely welcomed the return of ancestral lands, the move has sparked a debate over Cameroon’s economic future. Critics are concerned that shrinking plantations will exacerbate the nation’s reliance on imports, as curre...