November 07, 2017

Internet freedom is an inalienable right to be guarded jealously

located:	Ethiopia, Cameroon
editor:	Bob Koigi

In just two years, Sub Saharan Africa has lost over $237 million as a result of state-initiated Internet shutdowns, as governments across the region tighten the noose around online freedom of expression through harassment and intimidation of internet users. Since last year, 13 African governments have shut down the Internet on their citizens, compared to seven in the previous two years.

The idea has been to suppress dissenting voices and create a world of fear where only those in power have control and can filter what the public can or cannot consume.

It has been a tough call, from total outages during national examinations in Ethiopia to shutdowns in Cameroon, with governments operating under the pretext of national security. Businesses have suffered immensely, privacy has been invaded and the people’s right to information has been violated with no care in the world.

In one of the most recent heartrending experiences, the government of Cameroon shut down the Internet in the English speaking areas for 90 days following sustained protests by citizens who were opposed to years of oppression by the predominantly French speaking government. Startups who had built their livelihoods around the Internet were forced to travel 70 kilometers each day to Francophone areas to be able to connect with the world and protect their business from collapsing. During the calamity a 17 year old, Nji Collins Gbah, caught in the middle of the shutdown managed to manoeuvre his way to win the Google Coding Challenge, the first African to win.

But not everyone is as lucky. The impacts of these shutdowns have been felt long after they happen with businesses, most of them startups, losing clients and appeal to prospective investors waning.

People’s right to information access, their inalienable right to demand accountability and freedom of expression are non-negotiable in any democratic society. The rights of those offline should be respected as much as those online, and anything short violates the 2016 UN resolution that affirms the same.

While governments may continue justifying their reason for shutdowns, civil societies, media and other voices should escalate resistance to these shutdowns and educate the citizenry on alternative circumvention tools that can be applied in case such eventualities happen. In the age of liberalization, and impressive human rights track record, the right of Internet freedom remains sacrosanct and should be guarded jealously.