Londa report: Cameroon trails in Digital Rights as 2025 elections loom.

Cameroon was recently ranked 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.

Cameroon’s poor score is the content of the 2024 Londa Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa Report, published April 30 by Pan-African nonprofit, Paradigm Initiative, PIN.

The report was launched at the 2025 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF25) in Lusaka, Zambia, which held from April 29 to May 1, May, 2025.

It highlights systemic challenges facing Cameroon which are driven by structural weaknesses in digital rights protections, limited transparency, and the absence of inclusive digital frameworks, infrastructure gaps, arbitrary arrests of members of the media, human rights defenders and citizens, and the invasion of privacy. 

The 2024 edition of the report features a newly introduced aspect, The Londa Score Index, which evaluates countries based on their adherence to key human rights principles, as articulated in the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information. 

The index's bottom three countries are Mozambique, Sudan, and Ethiopia. The top three are South Africa, Ghana, and Zambia. 

Despite the poor ranking, stakeholders have sounded upbeat that there is significant room for improvement in Cameroon’s approach to digital governance and human rights. 

Zoom on key concerns for Cameroon 

The report identifies key developments and proffers recommendations that cover a range of stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society, governments, the media and academia. 

By implementing the recommendations and working together, stakeholders can build a strong and sustainable digital environment in Africa where everyone can exercise their rights online.

Key concerns cited in the report about Cameroon includes the inadequate legal and policy frameworks, criminalisation of free speech with continued use of laws to silence dissent and restrict freedom of expression, arbitrary arrests and harassment, especially of journalists, human rights defenders and online users, undermining civic participation.

The report also raise worries on the lack of comprehensive data protection laws that align with international standards and provide strong safeguards for citizens' personal data, noting that though a law was enacted on data protection in 2024, there is still room for improvement.

It also cites invasion of privacy with surveillance practices and lack of judicial oversight, threatening the privacy rights of citizens and media professionals as well as government’s reluctance to proactively share public interest information through digital platforms, which hampers transparency and accountability.

The report further raises worries on the lack of concrete policies or frameworks guiding the ethical development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence, AI, and emerging digital technologies.

It also cites the absence of specific child protection laws that promote the digital safety and privacy of children online and the glaring infrastructure deficits and gendered digital access gaps, especially affecting women and rural communities.

The report’s findings are particularly critical as Cameroon heads toward the 2025 Presidential elections, a time when access to information, freedom of expression online, and secure digital communication are vital. 

With weak digital rights protections, there are growing concerns about transparency, civic engagement, and the risk of internet disruptions or digital surveillance being used to suppress dissent during the electoral period.

About the Digital Rights & Inclusion Forum

The 2025 edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum was held in Lusaka, Zambia from April 29 to May 1, 2025. It brought together 623 delegates from 66 countries across the world. 

It was attended by 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 Paradigm Initiative. 

It addressed thematic areas of 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. 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. 

About PIN

Paradigm Initiative, PIN, connects under-served young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures the protection of their rights. PIN has 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 its regional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and, Zimbabwe, it has impacted more than 150,000 youth with improved livelihoods through its digital inclusion and digital rights programmes. 

Its flagship initiatives include the Life Skills, ICT Skills, Financial Readiness and Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training programme, the Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Monitor, Digital Rights Academies and more.

PIN through its online platforms also educate and provide safe spaces for reporting digital rights violations. These provide insights, in the form of reports, short films, and support through educational online platforms, Ayeta  and Ripoti. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3458 of Wednesday May 28, 2025