The internet shutdown imposed on Cameroon's North West and South West regions is costing local businesses dearly. Within days of the cut, traders, banks, money transfer agencies and young entrepreneurs began reporting losses that are mounting with every day the connection stays off.
Who is hit hardest
The shutdown affects every sector that depends on data, which today means almost the entire modern economy of the two regions. Among the hardest hit are:
- Cyber cafes and internet service points, many of which have simply closed
- Mobile money and money transfer agents, who cannot serve customers
- Banks and microfinance institutions whose branches rely on online systems
- Tech start-ups in Buea's so-called Silicon Mountain, whose clients are often abroad
- Students and freelancers who earn a living online
Business owners say salaries still have to be paid and rents still fall due, while revenue has dried up. Some have started travelling to Francophone towns such as Douala or Bafoussam to send emails, file documents or make online transactions, adding transport costs to their losses.
Silicon Mountain under pressure
Buea had built a reputation as a hub for young developers and digital companies. Founders warn that the shutdown threatens that reputation, as foreign partners cannot reach them and deadlines are missed. Some teams have moved temporarily to other cities, and there are fears that talent may leave the region for good.
Estimating the cost
Calculating the total cost of the shutdown is difficult, but business associations and digital rights groups have begun compiling estimates based on lost sales, missed contracts and idle staff. Their conclusion is that the bill runs high for the two regions, and that the damage extends beyond the directly affected businesses to suppliers, transporters and households.
The government's position
The authorities have justified the cut by pointing to the spread of what they call false information and calls to violence on social media during the Anglophone protests. Critics argue that the shutdown is a collective punishment that violates the right to information and harms the economy without addressing the underlying grievances.
Calls to restore the connection
Lawyers, civil society organisations and international digital rights campaigners have demanded that the internet be switched back on immediately. The online campaign known as Bring Back Our Internet has drawn attention far beyond Cameroon, highlighting the cost of switching off a region from the digital world.
For businesses in Bamenda, Buea, Kumba and Limbe, the message is clear: every day offline deepens the losses, and recovering lost customers and trust will take far longer than restoring a connection.