The authorities in Burkina Faso have said they disrupted access to Facebook due to security fears.
Government spokesperson Alkassoum Maiga said the authorities did not have to explain themselves on the shutdown first reported on 10 January and which appears to have continued.
“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,” Maiga said, according to the popular Radio Omega
The government announced on 11 January that eight soldiers were arrested over a “plan to destabilise the institutions of the republic”, a development that local media said was a coup plot.
The internet freedom monitoring group, NetBlocks, reported significant disruptions to internet services on 11 January
The killing of 53 people by suspected jihadists last November heightened public outrage against the government for failing to end the insurgency. The unrest has heightened fears of a military coup.
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Algeria closes schools amid rise in Covid cases
Algeria has closed schools for 10 days and enhanced screening at airports and other control measures following a rise in coronavirus cases.
It has also encouraged people to get vaccinated to counter the spread of the virus.
The decision by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to shut schools starting from Thursday followed an emergency meeting of ministers, top health and security officials.
A statement from the presidency however said that it was up to the universities to determine whether to close or reschedule their classes.
The country has recorded more than 220,000 coronavirus cases and over 6,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
Source: BBC
