Journalists in Burkina Faso condemn internet suspension

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Media professionals in Burkina Faso condemned the government’s internet suspension on Tuesday, describing it as a flagrant and inappropriate violation of the right to information and a serious attack on freedom of expression and the press.

The internet was cut Saturday amid protests against French military forces and the government for their inability to stop growing violence by militants.

Without giving reasons for the suspension, the government said late Monday that it cut mobile internet access for 96 hours under a legal provision related to national defense and public security.

It said fixed internet connections were not affected.

In a joint statement relayed by the media, the Professional Media Organizations said the shutdown caused enormous damage to workers, the informal sector, private sector, internet users and particularly the media and their audiences because the mobile internet connection is the most widespread.

“The professional media organizations hold the government, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP), mobile phone and internet operators responsible for this situation and the inconvenience suffered by Burkinabe, the media, their readers, listeners, viewers and followers,” according to the statement.

The organizations said they are protesting “against this flagrant and inappropriate violation of the public's right to information and a serious attack on freedom of expression and of the press.”

They condemned what it called a complicit attitude by the government, ARCEP, telephone and internet access operators, and “demanded the immediate restoration of the mobile Internet connection for the benefit of the population.”

Last week, demonstrators demanding the departure of French troops from the West African country blocked a French military convoy heading to Niger in the city of Kaya in the Centre-North region.

An attack by insurgents last week in northern Burkina Faso left more than 50 people dead, including 49 gendarmes, in one of the deadliest security incidents.

Burkina Faso’s area bordering Mali and Niger regularly witness attacks by terrorists with links to the Daesh/ISIS terror group.