by ROSY SADOU in Yaounde, Cameroon
Cameroon Bureau
YAOUNDE, (CAJ News) – CAMEROON has come under criticism after the government allegedly disrupted the internet to stop mobilisation for ongoing protests.
This repression is ahead of the delayed announcement of election results on Monday.
Polls were initially set to be announced on Thursday (yesterday) but was postponed with the country polarised by the possibility of longtime ruler, Paul Biya, retaining power following the October 12 polls.
Thursday was the third day of disruptions.
Critics and opposition, including self-declared winner, Issa Tchiroma, alleging he has again rigged the election.
Clashes have broken out between security forces and opposition supporters, further enraged by the throttling of the internet.
NetBlocks, the data-drive watchdog organisation that monitors cyber security and the governance of the internet, confirmed metrics showing a disruption to internet connectivity in Cameroon, also impacting neighbouring countries.
“The incident may limit coverage of events on the ground amid calls to annul presidential election results as President Biya seeks to extend his 43 years in power,” it stated.
Rebecca Enonchong, the technology entrepreneur and also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of AppsTech, said Cameroon had shut down the internet so the world would not observe citizens marching to claim their victory, with security forces seemingly unable to contain the protests.
She noted the government had blamed the disruptions on the West African Cable System (WACS) submarine cable being cut.
Enchonong explained the government’s version.
“It’s the Cameroonian state that took control of this cable at its landing point in Limbe after the agreement signed between MTN and the Minpostel of the time,” she said.
Technology expert, Angoh Eyong, described the disruptions as a “Dictatorship’s Firewall.”
“The regime is cutting the wires of truth! When the vote is a fraud, they sever the connection to stop the world from witnessing the revolution. The internet blackout is Biya’s admission of defeat,” he said.
The disruption is reminiscent of the 2017 internet shutdown, which lasted over 90 days, when the government curtailed protests in English-speaking regions.
Dictatorship’s Firewall: The regime is cutting the wires of truth! When the vote is a fraud, they sever the connection to stop the world from witnessing the revolution. The internet blackout is Biya’s admission of defeat.
– CAJ News