OUAGADOUGOU — Laurent Poda, the Prosecutor General at the Court of Appeal of Ouagadougou, has announced the commencement of an investigation aimed at identifying and arresting those responsible for disseminating a false press release purportedly issued by the High Court of Ouagadougou. The fraudulent release suggested an official investigation had been launched regarding the misuse of social media to defame the Head of State.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the fake press release falsely claimed that on July 15, 2024, the Prosecutor’s Office near the Ouagadougou High Court had instructed the Central Brigade for the Fight against Cyber Crime to investigate endorsements of defamatory content about the Head of State on Facebook using the ‘like’ function. Prosecutor Poda clarified that these allegations are still under police investigation and are not at the stage where formal judicial inquiry has begun.

The Prosecutor General has emphasized the importance of public reliance on official sources for accurate information concerning judicial matters. He urged citizens to refer to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights’ official website for genuine updates and has warned those behind the fake release of potential legal consequences for their actions. The immediate directive for this new inquiry underscores the judiciary’s commitment to combating misinformation and safeguarding the integrity of legal processes in Burkina Faso.