By John Ikani
Access to Facebook has been disrupted in Burkina Faso, as authorities of the West African country grapple fears of escalating insecurity.
Speaking on the continued shutdown first reported on January 10, Government spokesperson Alkassoum Maiga, said the authorities did not have to explain themselves.
According to him: “I think that if we have a choice between letting insecurity spread and taking measures that allow us to maintain a minimum control over the situation, then the choice seems clear to us that the national interest must take precedence.”
The internet freedom monitoring group, NetBlocks, reported significant disruptions to internet services on 11 January.
Heritage Times had earlier reported the arrest of eight soldiers in connection with a development, which the country’s media described as a coup attempt.
The alleged killing of 53 people by suspected jihadists last November has sparked public outrage at the Government for failing to end the crisis.
The violence has raised fears of a military coup in the country
Governments in west and central Africa are on high alert for coups after successful putsches over the past 18 months in Mali and Guinea.
Burkina Faso appears to be especially vulnerable.
Neighbouring governments have imposed heavy sanctions on the military rulers in Guinea and Mali in an effort to head off any contagion effect in a region once known as Africa’s “coup belt”.
The last coup in Burkina Faso took place seven years ago when a controversial military unit loyal to the ousted and exiled President, Blaise Compaoré, seized power.
