On September 19, the government and the Baka, the indigenous forest people commonly known as Pygmies, renewed their memorandum of understanding concerning conservation measures for the sustainable management of natural resources in protected areas in the East region. According to the state-owned daily Cameroon Tribune, the agreement was signed by the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife (Minfof), Jules Doret Ndongo, and the President of the Association Sanguia Baka Buma'a Kpodé (Asbabuk), Joseph Bibi.

This agreement was formalized by an initial three-year memorandum of understanding on February 26, 2019. Through this agreement, the State committed to granting the Baka greater access to the Lobéké, Nki, and Boumba Bek national parks and the Ngoyla wildlife reserve to carry out their traditional activities. For its part, the Baka community has committed to ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources in the parks, and to denouncing the perpetrators of illegal activities.

The government explains that the signing of this memorandum of understanding demonstrates Cameroon's commitment to promoting participatory management of natural resources and access rights for local communities, particularly indigenous peoples. 

Let’s note that Cameroon is a State party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and other treaties promoting the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples.

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