February 14, 2017 *An open letter to the President of Cameroun, Mr. Paul Biya, on the protracted Internet Shut Down in Anglophone regions by DigitalSENSE Africa on behalf of Cyber Rights Advocacy Coalition (CRAC). * Your Excellency Mr. Paul Biya The President The Republic of Cameroun. *Re: Internet Shut Down in Anglophone regions of Republic of Cameroun* We have followed up with the incident of Internet shut down in the two Anglophone regions of the Republic of Cameroun, namely the South West and North West; on the orders of your government, especially via the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and Ministry of Communication. The resolution to write you formally arose from unresolved efforts of our members alongside other continental and international civil society organisations on the protracted subject, which we think is uncalled for in the first instance at this era of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) ruling the world. Also, we are mostly disturbed that this shut down by the government of Cameroun under your watch, 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. *DigitalSENSE Africa* like every forward looking organization of repute sees the future of African countries including the Republic of Cameroun and their economies, as well as efforts to largely alleviate poverty on our 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 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. Hence, we solicit your good offices and the leadership of the government of the Republic of Cameroun 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. Further, we expect 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. In addition, DigitalSENSE Africa and Cyber Rights Advocacy Coalition hereby implore the leadership of the ECCAS to initiate diplomatic process of calling Mr. Biya’s government to a roundtable to discuss the implications of their step to Cameroun, Central Africa and the continent as a whole. DigitalSENSE Africa and Cyber Rights Advocacy Coalition are worried that most African nation’s especially within ECCAS are now adopting Internet starvation against the citizens as a political weapon, lamenting that Cameroun is the 10th African country to disconnect its citizens from the Internet in recent times. Out of this figure, 7 are members of ECCAS, namely Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Chad, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, while the rest are Egypt, Sudan, and Niger. For DigitalSENSE Africa and Cyber Rights Advocacy Coalition, there is no amount of justification and post-motem explanations that will make the shutdown of the Internet in any corner of Africa and Cameroun precisely, as a solution. We, therefore, encourage the 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. DigitalSENSE Africa and Cyber Rights Advocacy Coalition modestly ask that you use your good offices to among other things: • Guarantee internet access without further restriction to these two regions: South West and North West; otherwise known as Anglophone regions. • Henceforth, reinstate commitment to keeping the internet connected and accessible, including social media to the people of Republic of Cameroun. • Collaborate with the African Union (AU), ECCAS in resolving whatever seemingly problem suspected to have led to the shut down in first instance. • To 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. Sincerely, DigitalSENSE Africa Nkemdilim Nweke Executive Director, Operations -- *DigitalSENSE AFRICA MEDIA (DSA Media)* **Media *Consultancy *ICT Analysts *Perception Management *Domain Resellers* <http://www.digitalsensenews.com.ng>*DigitalSENSE Business News* <http://www.digitalsenseafrica.com.ng/businessnews>; *ITRealms Online <http://www.itrealms.com.ng/>,* NaijaAgroNet <http://www.naijaagronet.blogspot.com/> *Winner: First runner up, Highway Africa New Media Awards 2010* DigitalSENSE Africa Media [*Multiple-award winning medium*] (DigitalSENSE Business News <http://www.digitalsenseafrica.com.ng/businessnews>; ITREALMS <http://www.itrealms.com.ng/>, NaijaAgroNet <http://www.naijaagronet.com.ng/>) Block F1, Shop 133 Moyosore Aboderin Plaza, Bolade Junction, Oshodi-Lagos M: 234-8033592762, 8023122558, 8051000475, T: @ITRealms <http://www.twitter.com/ITRealms> Author: A Decade of ICT Reportage in Nigeria <https://www.facebook.com/adecadeofictreportageinnigeria%E2%80%8E> PC Summit 2016 <http://www.pcsummit.com.ng/>, December 1-2 @Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos. 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