In 2017, the streets of Bamenda, like much of Cameroon’s North West and South West regions, were plunged into digital darkness. The government, in a controversial move, shut down the internet, cutting off citizens from essential communication tools for 94 days. The shutdown left businesses struggling, schools unable to teach, and citizens frustrated as the key conduit for information exchange was severed. Among those directly affected was Hon. Agho Oliver, now the Member of Parliament for the Bafut-Tubah Constituency, who experienced first-hand the consequences of an internet shutdown.
Fast forward to 2023, Hon. Agho, equipped with the lessons learned from this difficult period, now stands on the international stage at the 18th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Kyoto, Japan, as part of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG). The IGF, a crucial platform for dialogue on public policy issues related to internet governance, represents an opportunity for Hon. Agho to champion digital rights and advocate for open internet access, something that Cameroonians, particularly those in Bamenda, have struggled with.
At the IGF, Hon. Agho joins over 6,000 delegates, including MPs and experts, to discuss African digital democracy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human rights, and the digital divide. His focus is clear: preventing future internet shutdowns, ensuring affordable data access, and fostering an environment where democracy thrives through open and accessible online spaces.
Reflecting on the painful days of 2017, when Bamenda was cut off from the world, Hon. Agho explains that such actions stifle democracy, particularly in regions like his, where civic spaces have already shrunk due to the Anglophone conflict. He knows well that the internet is now the last free space where civil society can engage, organize, and participate in governance. For this reason, he has committed himself to ensuring that internet freedom is maintained, even in times of political or social crisis.
During the summit, Hon. Agho shares the Cameroonian experience, highlighting the temporary nature of internet freedoms back home. Despite the restoration of internet access after the shutdown, challenges persist in the form of intermittent throttling by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and prohibitive data costs. These issues, he stresses, are hindering not just individuals but entire communities, including those in his Bafut-Tubah Constituency, from fully participating in the digital economy and political discourse.
"Access to the internet is more than a luxury; it's a necessity for development, education, and democracy," Hon. Agho emphasizes in his address to the global assembly.
He calls for more comprehensive digital rights legislation in Africa, arguing that governments must not only protect citizens' right to access the internet but also work towards making it affordable and safe for everyone.
Hon. Agho's journey to the IGF is not his first foray into digital rights advocacy. His involvement with the Bamenda-based organization A Common Future, which was at the forefront of campaigns to restore the internet in 2017, laid the groundwork for his passion in this area. Since becoming a Member of Parliament in 2020, he has continued this work, advocating at both regional and international levels for better digital governance and the protection of citizens’ online freedoms. His participation in forums like the African IGF in Nigeria and the #FIFafrica2023 in Tanzania further solidified his role as a leader in digital rights advocacy.
The IGF, with its focus on fostering robust and inclusive internet governance, provides the perfect stage for Hon. Agho to push his agenda. As he sits alongside fellow MPs and digital rights experts, he stresses that for regions like Bamenda, where physical civic spaces are increasingly limited due to conflict, the internet offers the only remaining platform for free expression and civil engagement.
His advocacy at the IGF is expected to lead to stronger advocacy at home, including his work with the Cameroon Digital Rights Coalition. Hon. Agho is committed to pushing a comprehensive digital rights bill through Parliament, which will protect internet access during times of conflict and promote a more inclusive digital economy. Such a bill could ensure that citizens in Bamenda and beyond are never again cut off from the world, empowering communities to continue engaging in democracy and development, no matter the circumstances.
The stakes are high for Hon. Agho, whose constituency and personal experience underscore the vital importance of an open internet. His participation in the IGF signals a renewed hope for digital rights in Cameroon, where the scars of the 2017 shutdown still linger. Through his efforts, there is the possibility that Bamenda’s internet woes, and those of the country as a whole, could soon become a thing of the past.