Cameroon: 93 days of Internet shutdown

In 2017, the Cameroonian government deprived Anglophone regions of the country of Internet
access for 93 days. The regions affected were the North-West and South-West regions. The order
to shutdown the Internet was given to the telecommunications operators by the government
through the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications on 17th January 2017. Restoration of
Internet access only came months later on 20th April 2017. The purpose of this Internet shutdown
was to limit the spread of information on the Anglophone secessionist conflict from the NorthWest and South-West regions of the country, which sought a break-away from predominantly
Francophone regions. In predominant Francophone Cameroon, the Anglophone population
represents about 20% of the 22.5 million total population. In response to the Internet shutdown,
many citizens from the Anglophone regions were forced to use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

By Rigobert Kenmogne