Continental
leading At-Large Structure (ALS) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers, the DigitalSENSE Africa, in collaboration with the Cyber Rights
Advocacy Coalition (CRAC) has petitioned the President of the Republic of
Cameroun, Mr. Paul Biya, over the Internet shut down in the southern part of
the country, reports ITRealms.
The group
recalls that the incident of Internet shut down in the two Anglophone regions
of the Republic of Cameroun, namely the South West and North West came on the
orders of government of Cameroun through the Ministry of Posts and
Telecommunications and Ministry of Communications.
In an open letter
on behalf of the coalition, made available to ITRealms, and endorsed by the Executive
Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa, Mrs Nkemdilim Nweke, they expressed
concern over the increasing number of internet shut downs in Africa, especially
the Central African countries, describing it as alarming.
According to
the coalition, out of an estimated 10 shut downs in recent times in Africa, 7
were from the Central African countries including Cameroun, Burundi,
Congo-Brazzaville, Chad, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Democratic
Republic of Congo. This is in addition to Egypt, Sudan and Niger.
The coalition
also said its worried, hence, they are adding their voices formally alongside
other local, continental and international civil society organisations on the
protracted subject, which they said was uncalled for in the first instance at this
era of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) ruling the world.
In addition,
they were disturbed that the Cameroun government’s action has led to
disconnection and lack of Internet connectivity in two regions, at a time
country like Canada a few days before proclaimed a high-speed internet, a basic
service "necessary to the quality of life" of all Canadians.
The open
letter dated February 14 with the theme: Internet Shut Down in Anglophone
regions of Republic of Cameroun, the
coalition noted that as a forward looking organizations of repute that see the
future of African countries including the Republic of Cameroun and their
economies, as well as efforts to largely alleviate poverty on the society; greatly
depending on the availability and quality of Internet access to the citizenry
at this 21st century and beyond.
“We wish to
state that this action (by Cameroun) not only negates the possibility of Central
Africa not meeting the Africa’s target within the 2063 Agenda, but the Republic
of Cameroun being adversely affected both in the infrastructure development and
human capital,” the group said.
They, therefore,
solicited President Biya’s good offices, to as matter of urgency reverse the
order given to the service operators through the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
“We also
urge the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to quickly liaise
with other regional and continental bodies to ensure a change of heart by Mr.
Biya’s government,” the group said, stressing that ECCAS
intervention would send the right signal to Mr. Biya and any other African
country that may be thinking on following this ugly footstep, mostly in ECCAS
region to realise the essence of the Internet to our daily existence.
The
coalition further, encouraged local Civil Society Organisations in the Republic
of Cameroun to remain steadfast while beckoning the global and International
communities to condemn the action of Mr. Biya’s government in totality, because
it distorts conventions including the African Peoples Right among others.
“Above all,
the citizens’ access to the world should be upper most in the African
leadership,” the group said, just as they ask the government of Cameroun guarantee
internet access without further restriction to these two regions: South West
and North West; otherwise known as Anglophone regions; reinstate commitment to
keeping the internet connected and accessible, including social media to the
people of Republic of Cameroun.
The coalition maintained that by collaborating
with the African Union (AU), ECCAS in resolving whatever seemingly problem
suspected to have led to the shut down in first instance and “embrace a new
slogan of ‘Internet is for everyone’ because any clamp down on one is an injury
and violation of cyber rights of citizens.”
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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