Friday, May 09, 2025: Cameroon ranks among the bottom 15 of the 27 countries assessed, with serious concerns raised about weak digital inclusion frameworks, limited transparency, and the absence of proactive digital rights policies. This was revealed by Pan African Nonprofit, Paradigm Initiative’s (PIN’s) 2024 Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa Report- Londa, which introduced a new Score Index that assesses African countries’ compliance with key human rights standards. The Index evaluates the compliance of the countries with the key human rights elements described in the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.
The report, launched at the 2025 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF25) in Lusaka, Zambia, which kicked off on April 29th, 2025 and ended on 1st May, 2025, highlights systemic challenges facing Cameroon and similar countries, including infrastructure gaps, arbitrary arrests of members of the media, human rights defenders and citizens, and the invasion of privacy. With 27 African countries spotlighted in the report, one main highlight that cut across most countries concerned during the reporting period was internet disruptions caused by various factors, including poor infrastructure.
“The marked increase in internet shutdowns is a reflection of the reluctance of some African countries to comply with international human rights law and a demonstrated dereliction of duty towards national, regional and international obligations to promote freedom of expression and access to information,” the report states.
Other issues that the report highlights are the cost of data which affected the ability of women to afford data bundles for internet access, crackdown on freedom of expression, criminalisation of false news contrary to international standards recommending that governments prefer civil sanctions to address false news, lack of legal frameworks that address online gender-based violence, need for governments to proactively disclose information and use of digital platforms to enhance access to information. A copy of the report can be accessed here.
The Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum was held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC). brought together 623 delegates from 66 countries across the world. It brought together policymakers, civil society actors, non-governmental organisations, tech innovators, representatives from the United Nations (UN), diplomatic corps, development agencies, donors/funders, media professionals, government representatives and representatives from academia and the private sector.
Held under the theme, “Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology,” the signature event was hosted by pan-African organisation, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) and addressed the following thematic areas: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Trust and Accountability, Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity, Digital Inclusion and Marginalised Groups, Digital Security, Human Rights and Freedoms.
The forum featured 122 sessions, including workshops, day zero events, exhibitions, tech demos, lightning talks and panel sessions. The sessions were selected from 345 proposals received by the organisation. In 2024, the organisation received 245 session proposals and hosted over 80 sessions. In 2023, the organisation hosted 70 sessions.
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About PIN
Paradigm Initiative (PIN) connects under-served young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures the protection of their rights. We have worked in communities across Nigeria since 2007 and across Africa since 2017, building experience, community trust, and an organisational culture that positions us as a leading non-profit in ICT for Development and digital rights on the continent.
Across our regional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and beyond, we have impacted more than 150,000 youth with improved livelihoods through our digital inclusion and digital rights programmes. Our programmes include Life Skills, ICT Skills. Financial Readiness and Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training programme, a digital readiness workshop for youth, and life at school club programme.
We have also built online platforms that educate and serve as safe spaces for reporting digital rights violations. These mediums, in the form of reports, short films, and educational online platforms, include Ayeta, Londa, and Ripoti.