Douala Court Suspends Djeuga Palace Hotel Sale

On October 9, 2026, the Tribunal de Première Instance de Douala-Ndokoti in Cameroon issued an order suspending the sale of the Djeuga Palace Douala property, which was scheduled for the same day.

This interim order highlights the critical role of summary proceedings (référé d'heure à heure) in preventing immediate, potentially irreversible actions while substantive legal disputes are ongoing. For businesses, it underscores the importance of robust due diligence on property titles and the potential for judicial intervention to halt transactions based on contested ownership. It also demonstrates the judiciary's power to preserve the status quo pending a definitive resolution of complex property disputes, which can significantly impact investment and development projects.

The case involves a dispute over property ownership, specifically concerning the annulment of a land title and a subsequent sale procedure. The Tribunal de Première Instance, a court of first instance, issued a summary order (ordonnance de référé) to suspend the sale. This type of urgent proceeding is typically used to prevent imminent harm or to preserve rights pending a full trial. The excerpt explicitly states that the suspension is "en attendant l’issue des procédures contentieuses introduites devant le Tribunal Administratif du Littoral sur la propriété de l’immeuble." This indicates a bifurcated legal process, with the administrative court (Tribunal Administratif) having jurisdiction over the underlying property ownership dispute, likely involving the validity of the land title or the concession itself, given the administrative nature of land concessions in Cameroon.

The Tribunal de Première Instance de Douala-Ndokoti, presided over by Mme TOTTO MAMIKOUAN Angèle, issued the suspension order. The honorable FEUTHEU Claude initiated the urgent application (saisi en référé d'heure à heure). The Cabinet conseil ATOU, represented by Me MOUKOURY EYANGO Jean-Jacques, had obtained the annulment of the land title and initiated the sale procedure. The Djeuga Palace group is the entity whose property sale was suspended. The Tribunal Administratif du Littoral is the court where the substantive ownership dispute is being litigated.

Attorneys advising on real estate transactions in Cameroon must be acutely aware of the potential for challenges to land titles, even after an annulment has been obtained. The Djeuga Palace case illustrates that even with an annulled title, further judicial intervention can halt subsequent actions like sales. Practitioners should conduct thorough due diligence not only on the current status of land titles but also on any ongoing or potential administrative or judicial challenges to their validity. They should also be prepared to utilize or defend against urgent summary proceedings (référé) to protect or challenge transactions, especially when fundamental property rights are contested. The outcome of the administrative proceedings regarding the property's true ownership will be crucial and should be closely monitored by all stakeholders in the Cameroonian real estate sector.