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Cameroon ends internet shutdown on orders of President Paul Biya | Cameroon ends internet shutdown on orders of President Paul Biya |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Internet services in Cameroon's English-speaking regions have been turned back on three months after they were cut off following protests. | Internet services in Cameroon's English-speaking regions have been turned back on three months after they were cut off following protests. |
People were delighted when online access was restored in both regions on Thursday at around 19:00 GMT, a BBC correspondent in Bamenda reports. | People were delighted when online access was restored in both regions on Thursday at around 19:00 GMT, a BBC correspondent in Bamenda reports. |
Before the ban, authorities had warned mobile phone users they faced jail for spreading false information. | Before the ban, authorities had warned mobile phone users they faced jail for spreading false information. |
Communications and the economy were badly affected by the shutdown. | Communications and the economy were badly affected by the shutdown. |
Anglophone Cameroonians make up about 20% of the country's 23 million people. The other regions of the country are predominately French-speaking. | Anglophone Cameroonians make up about 20% of the country's 23 million people. The other regions of the country are predominately French-speaking. |
Celebrations: Frederic Takang, BBC News, Bamenda, Cameroon | |
Excited groups gathered in the city centre to share the news with each other on Thursday night, as passing cars honked their horns in celebration. | Excited groups gathered in the city centre to share the news with each other on Thursday night, as passing cars honked their horns in celebration. |
Students, those working in the financial sector, and businesses who sell products online say they suffered hugely during the ban. | Students, those working in the financial sector, and businesses who sell products online say they suffered hugely during the ban. |
Cyber-cafes which were forced to close are now reopening. | Cyber-cafes which were forced to close are now reopening. |
My own work and family life were affected. | My own work and family life were affected. |
I had to make a four-hour round trip to a neighbouring region every time I wanted to send radio reports to my editors. | I had to make a four-hour round trip to a neighbouring region every time I wanted to send radio reports to my editors. |
There are those who see this as the first step towards resolving tensions between the government and the Anglophone community. | There are those who see this as the first step towards resolving tensions between the government and the Anglophone community. |
Some are encouraging their friends to be less outspoken on social media to avoid another shutdown. | |
But others are still angry and say the release of three leaders of the Anglophone protests and 30 others who are still detained should be the priority. | But others are still angry and say the release of three leaders of the Anglophone protests and 30 others who are still detained should be the priority. |
Prominent Cameroonian entrepreneur Rebecca Enonchong welcomed the news on Twitter, using the #BringBackOurInternet hashtag, which had been employed by many to pressure the government to lift the ban. | Prominent Cameroonian entrepreneur Rebecca Enonchong welcomed the news on Twitter, using the #BringBackOurInternet hashtag, which had been employed by many to pressure the government to lift the ban. |
Workers in Cameroon's tech hub, known as Silicon Mountain, had to relocate to areas where the internet was still available. | Workers in Cameroon's tech hub, known as Silicon Mountain, had to relocate to areas where the internet was still available. |
Anglophone Cameroonians in the North-West and South-West regions had been protesting over marginalisation and the imposition of French in their schools and courts. | Anglophone Cameroonians in the North-West and South-West regions had been protesting over marginalisation and the imposition of French in their schools and courts. |
Announcing the lifting of the ban, the government said it reserved the right to "take measures to stop the internet once again becoming a tool to stoke hatred and division among Cameroonians". | Announcing the lifting of the ban, the government said it reserved the right to "take measures to stop the internet once again becoming a tool to stoke hatred and division among Cameroonians". |