Cameroon Telecom Giant's GM, Yah Sunday Judith Achidi Achu Calls for Digital Truce: Stop Vandalizing Our Fiber Optic Lines
Colbert Gwain @The Colbert Factor
Growing up in the picturesque community of Muteff in the Fundong municipality of Cameroon's North West Region, every child in a sugarcane-deprived compound looked forward with anxiety to the after-school hours where those of us from Njinaku quarter would flog to Bobe Ayungha's sugarcane-infested compound situated on the road to the forest where the farms of virtually all community members were found.
We would often volunteer to help Bobe Ayungha with various tasks in his carpentry workshop in exchange for permission to harvest sugarcane in his coffee plantation, which stretched down to the river Ngwah. The river originated from the "Agheli" forest, a mystical shrine of the Nantang Yoh Order. One fateful day, we gathered at Bobe Ayungha's workshop, only to find him absent. While waiting for his return, we began playing around the premises, unaware that one of us had accidentally destroyed two pages of the calendar hanging on the wall. Unbeknownst to us, this calendar was crucial to Bobe Ayungha's business, serving as a personal assistant to keep track of delivery and payment dates.
When he arrived and saw the damaged calendar, he stormed towards us, furious. We realized something was amiss when he began thrashing us indiscriminately, only stopping when we showed genuine remorse. He explained the extent of the harm we had caused and concluded by saying "Choeteh Agus-September all," which translates to "You have destroyed all of August and September," highlighting the significance of the damaged calendar pages.
Just as the vandalization of Bobe Ayungha's calendar disrupted his communication with customers, the repeated destruction of Cameroon's Telecommunications (CAMTEL) optic fiber lines by individuals across the country has had a similar impact. This alarming trend has prompted the General Manager of CAMTEL, Yah Sunday Judith Achidi Achu, to address the National Assembly. On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, she expressed concern about the uncontrollable situation, highlighting the need for action to protect critical infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted communication services.
"Every cable cut, every manhole sabotaged, and each fiber ripped out instantly plunges entire regions, and even neighboring countries, into digital silence," states Judith Achidi Achu. She emphasizes, "It's not just a technical incident; it's a brutal obstacle to national economic development, a disruption of public services, and a violation of citizens' basic human rights." Achu further explains that each cable cut deprives students of online courses, disrupts telemedicine services in hospitals, renders government institutions inaccessible, and disconnects businesses from their customers. She notes that vandalized cables weaken the economy, compromise sovereignty, and undermine national cohesion.
Disheartened by the situation, the General Manager of CAMTEL, Judith Achidi Achu, is urging Cameroonian lawmakers to expedite the formulation of legislation that prioritizes the protection of digital infrastructure as a national security concern. She advocates for a robust legal framework with exemplary and deterrent penalties for acts of vandalism, drawing inspiration from countries like Kenya, Uganda, Taiwan, and the United States, where such acts are treated as serious threats to national sovereignty. Pending the legislation, Yah calls for policies that integrate telecommunications networks into public development projects, such as roads, buildings, and highways, by incorporating standardized cable ducts from the outset.
Although the CAMTEL General Manager didn't directly name those responsible for the vandalism, it's becoming increasingly clear that telecommunications infrastructure is being targeted as a new battlefield in conflict zones worldwide. According to Access Now, a global digital rights watchdog, there has been a surge in attacks on digital infrastructure and connectivity in conflict zones. Access Now notes, "This digital component of warfare is now commonplace in war zones, from Ukraine to Myanmar to Sudan, yet it remains frequently overlooked in peacemaking efforts." They also point out that existing legislation and international instruments weren't designed with the internet, technology, or social media in mind.
Unlike the CAMTEL GM, Access Now highlights that some argue that robust implementation of existing laws is needed, rather than new legislation. In Cameroon's case, the challenge lies in effectively enforcing current legislation. The Colbert Factor suggests that CAMTEL authorities should focus on developing a precise definition of telecommunications infrastructure vandalism and how it fits within existing laws on public property destruction, as well as holding perpetrators accountable.
To achieve this, they could implement organizational education, sensitization, and training programs for law enforcement officers on the critical role of digital technologies and infrastructure in national security. Additionally, recruiting community-based volunteers to report suspicious cases of fiber optic vandalism to law enforcement officers could be an effective strategy. This is because even if a new tougher law is passed and implementation incentives are not there, it will remain on paper like the other pieces of legislation in Cameroon
