Govt Shut Down Facebook In Burkina Faso Due To ‘Security Concerns’

Authorities in Burkina Faso say they have blocked access to Facebook for security reasons.

Government spokesman Alkassoum Maiga said the government did not have to comment on the cause of the blockade, which began on January 10 and continued.

Omega Radio quoted the spokesman as saying, “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,”.

On January 11, the government announced the arrest of eight soldiers in connection with a development, which the country’s media described as a coup attempt.

The Internet rights group NetBlocks says there was a significant internet outage on January 11.

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