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Cameroon restores internet in time for UN Special Rep's return visit

Cameroon restores internet in time for UN Special Rep's return visit

As of 20 April 2017, internet services have been restored across Cameroon following a three-month blackout, according to the country's President Paul Biya and confirmed in a statement issued by the UN Secretary-General for Central Africa and Head of UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA).

"The Special Representative welcomes this measure, which is in line with those recently announced by the Government to address the demands of English-Speaking teachers and lawyers. He takes note that the decision will go a long way to help reduce tension and to create conditions conducive for the resolution of the crisis in the two regions," reads the statement.

This follows the conclusion of a two-day visit by UNOCA Special Representative François Louncény Fall to Cameroon to attend the 44th Ministerial Meeting of the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC).

When Fall visited the country two months ago, he confirmed his intention to check on Cameroon's progress to address what he described at the time as a "deplorable situation" of depriving internet access to those living in the North West and South West regions.

Fall has called for Cameroonians to show restraint and avoid using the internet to incite hatred or violence, according to UNOCA.

Cameroon's Minister of External Relations Lejeune Mbella Mbella has been selected to the role of President of the 44th Ministerial Meeting's newly established Bureau of the Committee for a period of six months.

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