Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has strongly condemned the ongoing internet access restrictions in Cameroon, describing them as a grave violation of digital rights and freedom of expression amid heightened tensions following the country’s presidential elections.
According to reports, Internet disruptions have persisted since October 23, 2025, affecting access to online communication platforms and news sources across Cameroon.
The restrictions come as citizens await the official announcement of results from the October 12 presidential election, an atmosphere already marked by protests and political uncertainty.
PIN, a leading pan-African digital rights organization, said the current situation confirms its earlier warning about the deteriorating state of digital freedoms in Cameroon.
The group had, on April 15, 2025, urged authorities to safeguard internet access and uphold transparency ahead of the polls, a call that appears to have been ignored.
“The internet disruptions in Cameroon are a violation of fundamental rights under Articles 9 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Cameroon Constitution,” PIN said in a statement.
The organization also reminded the government of its obligations under Principle 38(2) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which explicitly prohibits state-sanctioned internet shutdowns.
It further cited Resolution 580 on Internet Shutdowns and Elections, which calls on African states to refrain from such disruptions during electoral processes.
PIN warned that internet shutdowns not only threaten democratic integrity but also silence journalists, limit access to vital information, and suppress the voices of citizens and voters. It emphasized that telecom operators and regulators in Cameroon have a duty to maintain reliable internet connectivity and provide transparent communication about any service disruptions.
The organization has therefore called on the government of Cameroon to immediately restore full internet and social media access, and on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disclose any directives received from authorities and resume normal services without delay.
“These disruptions have serious implications for the integrity of the electoral process. Freedom of expression and access to information must be protected at all times,” PIN said.
