One year of #BringbackourInternet: Six Months of Internet Shutdowns for Citizens of English-speaking Cameroon! - Internet Sans Frontières

Paris – January 18, 2018 On January 17, 2017, the Cameroonian government imposed an internet shutdown on North-west and South-west regions of the country. During a Facebook Live Chat organised to mark this one year anniversary, Internet Without Borders reminded that citizens of anglophone regions have spent more than 6 months with social media and messaging apps blocked.

Despite its international commitments, the Government of Cameroon ordered Internet providers to shut down their services completely in the Anglophone regions of the country during 93 days in the first half of 2017. Then, on October 1, 2017, another blackout was ordered, followed by a social media and messaging apps blackout, which continues today. . This Internet shutdown causes serious damage on the economic and human development of the nation: it has already costed 39 millions to companies, and affects essential health services. Politically, the digital marginalization of the Anglophone regions is bound to fuel, furthermore, the instability in the country.

“In Countries like Cameroon, shutting down social media and messaging apps de facto equals shutting the whole Internet” Said Julie Owono, the executive director of Internet Without Borders. “Unfortunately, this assumption is verified in the case of Cameroon: since October 2017 it is very difficult to receive videos, pictures, despite worrying reports of serious Human Rights violations in the North West and South West regions”, she added.

As Cameroon entered its electoral year, with the presidential election set to take place in late 2018, it is more than ever urgent that the Government restores full Internet access in all regions of the country. This is the sole condition to ensure a political environment, which allows free expression, and free exercise of other civil and political rights.

Fore more information:
Contact Julie Owono, Executive Director, +336 37 72 69 83, julie@internetsansfrontieres.org

See the podcast of our Facebook Live chat on one year of Internet shutdowns in Cameroon : https://www.facebook.com/InternetSansFrontieres/videos/10154981815051784/?notif_id=1516126822684279&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic