Internet Blackout in Cameroon: Is Biya’s Regime in Full Panic Mode?

Tension in Cameroon continues to mount as the country awaits the official proclamation of results from the disputed October 12 presidential election. While the ruling CPDM insists that President Paul Biya has secured another victory, the government’s actions across the country paint a very different picture, one of fear, panic, and growing insecurity within the regime itself.

Over the past few days, authorities have tightened control across major cities, taking desperate steps to stop any possible public uprising. In Yaoundé, a Divisional Officer was seen walking through the streets with a megaphone, pleading with residents to remain calm and avoid demonstrations when the results are announced. His message was clear: do not protest, no matter the outcome. But his tone reflected something deeper, a government unsure of its own legitimacy.

In Douala, Garoua, Maroua, Ngaoundéré, and Buea, local administrators have followed the same pattern. Curfews have been imposed, motorbike movement restricted, and military patrols increased. In some towns, armoured vehicles have been stationed at key intersections, creating the impression of a country under siege rather than one awaiting the peaceful conclusion of a democratic process.

In Buea, reports indicate that uniformed officers have launched a wave of arrests targeting young men. Victims say they were dragged from their homes and taken to police stations, where they were forced to sign undertakings promising not to take part in any protest or “disturb public order.” Families now live in fear, not because of instability from citizens, but because of repression from those meant to protect them.

Adding to this climate of fear is the mysterious circulation of handwritten notes in several cities. Messages warning people not to protest “when President Biya is declared winner.” The messages, written in plain language and distributed in markets and neighbourhoods, appear to be part of an organized effort to discourage public outrage before the results are even made public.

As if these measures were not enough, Cameroon has now experienced a nationwide Internet disruption for the past two days. Connectivity has slowed drastically or gone completely dark in many regions, cutting off access to social media and limiting the flow of information. Citizens say they can no longer communicate freely or access independent news.

This blackout reminds many Cameroonians of 2017, when the government similarly cut Internet access in the North West and South West regions during the peak of the Anglophone crisis, a move widely condemned by rights groups as a tool of political control.

In a free and fair election, the days leading up to the results should be marked by calm and celebration. Instead, Cameroonians are witnessing curfews, arrests, soldiers on the streets, and a blackout meant to silence them. The government’s behaviour suggests not confidence, but panic, not leadership, but fear of accountability.

MMI News