Burkina Faso | |
---|---|
Motto: "La Patrie ou la Mort, Nous Vaincrons" (French) ("Homeland or Death, we will Conquer") | |
Anthem: "Une Seule Nuit" / "Ditanyè" (French) ("One Single Night" / "Hymn of Victory") | |
Capital and largest city | Ouagadougou 12°22′N 1°32′W / 12.367°N 1.533°W |
Official languages | |
Working languages | |
Ethnic groups (2010 est.)[1] | |
Demonym(s) |
|
Government | Unitary republic under a military junta[3][4][5] |
Ibrahim Traoré | |
Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla | |
Legislature | Transitional Legislative Assembly |
History | |
• Republic of Upper Volta proclaimed | 11 December 1958 |
• Independence from France | 5 August 1960 |
3 January 1966 | |
28 October – 3 November 2014 | |
23–24 January 2022 | |
30 September 2022 | |
Area | |
• Total | 274,223[6] km2 (105,878 sq mi) (74th) |
• Water (%) | 0.146% |
Population | |
• 2023 estimate | 22,489,126[6] (60th) |
• Density | 64/km2 (165.8/sq mi) |
GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | ![]() |
• Per capita | ![]() |
GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | ![]() |
• Per capita | ![]() |
Gini (2020) | ![]() medium inequality |
HDI (2022) | ![]() low (185th) |
Currency | West African CFA franc[10] (XOF) |
Time zone | UTC+00:00 |
Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +226 |
ISO 3166 code | BF |
Internet TLD | .bf |
Burkina Faso[a] is a landlocked country in West Africa. It covers an area of 274,223 km2 (105,878 sq mi),[6] bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. As of 2021, the country had an estimated population of 23,674,480.[12] Previously called the Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), it was renamed Burkina Faso by President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabè,[b] and its capital and largest city is Ouagadougou.
The largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso is the Mossi people, who settled the area in the 11th and 13th centuries. They established powerful kingdoms such as the Ouagadougou, Tenkodogo, and Yatenga. In 1896, it was colonized by the French as part of French West Africa; in 1958, Upper Volta became a self-governing colony within the French Community. In 1960, it gained full independence with Maurice Yaméogo as president. Since it gained its independence, the country has been subject to instability, droughts, famines and corruption. There have also been various coups, in 1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, and twice in 2022 (January and September). There were also unsuccessful coup attempts in 1989, 2015, and 2023.
Thomas Sankara came to power following a successful coup in 1983. As president, Sankara embarked on a series of ambitious socioeconomic reforms which included a nationwide literacy campaign, land redistribution to peasants, vaccinations for over 2 million children, railway and road construction, equalized access to education, and the outlawing of female genital mutilation, forced marriages, and polygamy. He served as the country's president until 1987 when he was deposed and assassinated in a coup led by Blaise Compaoré, who became president and ruled the country until his removal on 31 October 2014.
Burkina Faso has been severely affected by the rise of Insurgencies in the Sahel since the mid-2010s. Several militias, partly allied with the Islamic State (IS) or al-Qaeda, operate in Burkina Faso and across the border in Mali and Niger. More than one million of the country's 21 million inhabitants are internally displaced persons. Burkina Faso's military seized power in a coup d'état on 23–24 January 2022, overthrowing President Roch Marc Kaboré. On 31 January, the military junta restored the constitution and appointed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim president, but he was himself overthrown in a second coup on 30 September and replaced by military captain Ibrahim Traoré.[13]
Burkina Faso remains one of the least developed countries in the world, with a GDP of $16.226 billion in 2022. Approximately 63.8% of its population practices Islam, while 26.3% practice Christianity.[2] The country's official language of government and business was formerly French; its status was relegated by a constitutional amendment ratified in January 2024, turning French into a "working language" of the country, alongside English.[14][15] There are 60 indigenous languages officially recognized by the Burkinabè government, with the most common language, Mooré, spoken by over half the population.[16][17] Its territory is geographically biodiverse, with plentiful reserves of gold, manganese, copper and limestone. Due to its diverse multicultural make-up, Burkinabè art has a rich and long history, and is globally renowned for its orthodox style.[18] The country is governed as a semi-presidential republic with executive, legislative and judicial powers. Burkina Faso is a member of the United Nations, La Francophonie and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Burkina Faso announced on 2024-01-18 its exit from ECOWAS and the African Union.
Traore appeared on television surrounded by soldiers and announced the government was dissolved, the constitution suspended and the borders closed.
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