SECTOR 1

also has to do with government’s inability to put in place an efficient information
management and distribution system. According to a panellist, this explains why
“months after a presidential decree increasing salaries in the country, staff of
some rural councils had not started enjoying the benefits because council officials
had not yet received officially transmitted copies of the decree.”
An organisation called the Citizens Governance Initiative is leading a coalition
of non-governmental organisations and civil society groups to advocate for an
Access to Information Law in Cameroon. A draft law that has been written by
the organisation has provisions that oblige public officials to release information
to citizens.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

2.1 (2008=1.3; 2011=1.3)

1.8 Websites, blogs and other digital platforms are not
required to register with, or obtain permission, from
state authorities.
At present, news websites and other digital information outlets such as personal
blogs do not need prior authorisation to become operational. Cameroonian
legislation does not yet address web-based content. Instead, it focuses on
regulating the activities of internet service providers and web hosting services12.
As such, individuals and institutions have the latitude to freely create and run
websites and blogs without seeking the permission of a public authority. The
number of such sites is “impressive” and continues to grow. According to a list
on the website of the National Communication Council, Cameroon has about 40
websites that specialise in delivering news content. But the list is incomplete, as
many well-known news sites are not included.
Discussions about regulating the creation of websites and blogs only started
in earnest two years ago. Delegates at the 2012 National Communication
12 The most comprehensive ITC laws are those organizing the National Agency for Information and Communication
Technologies (ANTIC), the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) and the law on cybersecurity and cybercrime

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2014

Select target paragraph3