INTRODUCTION
The procedure for Dissolving customary marriage in Cameroon is bringing to an end a marriage not contracted under the statutory law of Cameroon. Thus, it is not a statutory marriage and as such, the legal procedure for dissolving a statutory marriage does not apply to it. There are no provisions in the Matrimonial Causes Act for the customary marriage’s dissolution.
Customary law, which is the body of unwritten norms, rules, and regulations accepted by a community and recognized, as binding on them is the main source of Cameroon family law. A customary marriage is one where spouses are married in terms of customs and tradition.
For a customary marriage to be conducted and valid it requires these various principles;
- The parties must be above the age of 18, which is the capacity requirement for a customary marriage
- The consent of the bride and bridegroom is necessary to enter into a customary marriage
- The consent of the father or guardian of the bride must be sought
- There must be payment of bride price or dowry, which is both a gift and payment that may be monetary or natural produce essential for a customary marriage to be conducted
- Finally, there must be a ceremony of marriage and handing over the woman to the man’s family.
A marriage contracted under customary law is valid in the eyes of the law, provided that it complies with the native law and custom governing marriage in that locality.
To understand the procedure for Dissolving customary marriage in Cameroon, many cultures have binding principles that apply to that community. In some cultures, divorce is considered an abomination while in some societies divorce is said to occur where the bride price is returned to the parents of the bride. In the Islamic tradition, divorce is said to occur by professing divorce by word of mouth three times to the bride.
The procedure for Dissolving customary marriage in Cameroon be exhasuted without any judicial intervention or pronouncement, which means that the parties can end the marriage on their own without instituting any action in court for an order of dissolution of the marriage. The condition under which customary marriage can be dissolved requires that there must be a formal intention act on the party who is tired of the marriage to bring it to an end. In most customs, the bride price and other marriage expenses are refunded to the husband seeking to dissolve the marriage and when this is done, the marriage can be said to have been dissolved.
However, it is most advisable that a party seeking to dissolve a marriage conducted under the customary law should do so through the judicial process in the nearest Customary Court.The procedure for Dissolving customary marriage in Cameroon will be discussed below.
PROCEDURE FOR DISSOLVING A CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE IN CAMEROON CUSTOMARY COURT
A customary law marriage can be dissolved by a judicial divorce
- JUDICIAL DIVORCE: This approach to divorce is sought where the option of reconciliation has been explored and failed. The reconciliation, in this case, is done by family arbitration to reconcile the couple. The court that has jurisdiction to hear the matter for dissolution is the Customary Court.
There are grounds upon which a customary marriage can be dissolved, although not strict, and particular are that the marriage has failed. Grounds such as adultery, impotency of the man, cruelty, ill-treatment, desertion, etc. are required in dissolving a customary marriage depending on the Customary Courts.
The grounds for dissolution of the marriage at the Customary Court may generally include any of the followings:
- Refusal to consummate the marriage
- Harmful diseases of a particular nature that has affected the fertility of either the man or the woman.
- Impotency of the man or sterility of the woman
The Customary Court in dissolving the marriage would consider the duration of the marriage and the conduct of the parties. Where a Customary Court dissolves a marriage, it is maybe further held that the bride’s price or dowry paid by the husband be returned to finally end the marriage.
CONCLUSION ON THE PROCEDURE FOR DISSOLVING CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE IN CAMEROON.
Customary law is the law that governs a particular locality. A marriage contracted under customary law is valid so far as the requirements and procedures are followed. In dissolving a customary marriage, the procedure for dissolving customary marriage in Cameroon procedures is different from that of a statutory marriage, as customary marriage can be summarily dissolved.
There is no special judicial procedure for the dissolution of customary marriage. In general, there are no strict and standardized grounds for the dissolution of a customary marriage, howbeit, an emphasis is placed on the fact that the marriage has failed.
To understand more on the procedure for Dissolving customary marriage in Cameroon, we strongly recommend that a doubting party should seek the services of a family lawyer.
Article by Barr. Mafany Victor Ngando
Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm
“The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances”