MTN, Orange, and Camtel Under Fire as Network Fails Citizens

By A.J.

Since Wednesday evening, internet services in major Cameroonian towns including Yaounde, Douala, Bafoussam, Buea and Bamenda have been heavily disrupted.

Residents report slow or completely inaccessible connections, making communication, business, and daily life extremely difficult.

These disruptions are not new. Over the past months, Cameroonians have faced repeated network failures, yet telecom operators like MTN, Orange, and Camtel continue to offer vague explanations.

While internet in other African countries is becoming faster and more reliable, Cameroon seems trapped in a cycle of excuses and poor service.

Citizens are growing increasingly frustrated, demanding accountability from companies who charge high fees but fail to provide consistent connectivity.

A Dangerous Pattern, Especially Ahead of Elections

With less than a month to go before the October 12 presidential election, these blackouts take on a more serious dimension.

Access to information is crucial in a functioning democracy, yet citizens are being cut off at a time when they need news, campaign updates, and electoral guidance the most.

Already, conspiracy theories are spreading online and offline, with some questioning whether these disruptions are accidental or politically motivated.

The memory of the 2017 Anglophone internet blackout, which lasted over three months in the North West and South West regions adds fuel to the fire.

That shutdown was widely criticized as a tool to silence dissent and control information. Today’s network failures, even if unintentional, evoke similar fears among Cameroonians about access to information being compromised at a critical political moment.

Operators and Government Must Answer

Repeated failures in the telecommunications sector are no longer acceptable.

Cameroonians say they are paying some of the highest data tariffs in Africa but continue to face unreliable service.

Residents are urging telecom operators must invest in their infrastructure and be transparent with the public, while the government should enforce accountability and ensure that the country’s digital space remains open and functional especially during an election period.

For citizens trying to communicate, do business, or simply access news, every hour without service is a lost opportunity.

The people of Cameroon deserve reliable internet, not excuses or disruptions, particularly when the stakes for democracy and civic participation are so high.