Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso
Drawn by SKopp, rewritten by Gabbe and Андрей Перцев · Public domain · source
Conventional long name	Burkina Faso
Capital	Ouagadougou
Largest city	Ouagadougou
Official languages	French
Demonym	Burkinabé
Government type	Unitary provisional junta-led republic
Leader title1	President
Leader name1	Ibrahim Traoré
Leader title2	Prime Minister
Leader name2	Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla
Area km2	274,200
Population estimate	23,251,485
Population estimate year	2023

Burkina Faso. A landlocked nation in West Africa, it is bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. Formerly known as Upper Volta, the country gained independence from France in 1960 and adopted its current name in 1984 under the leadership of Thomas Sankara. Its political landscape has been marked by instability, with several coups, most recently in 2022, and it faces significant security challenges from Islamist militant groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

History

The territory of present-day Burkina Faso has been inhabited for millennia, with early societies like the Mossi Kingdoms, such as Ouagadougou and Tenkodogo, establishing powerful states by the 15th century. In the late 19th century, the region became part of French West Africa, administered as Upper Volta. After independence, the first president, Maurice Yaméogo, was ousted in a 1966 coup led by Sangoulé Lamizana. The revolutionary period of Thomas Sankara in the 1980s brought sweeping reforms before his assassination in 1987, after which Blaise Compaoré ruled for 27 years. Compaoré's overthrow in the 2014 Burkinabé uprising led to a transitional government and the election of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, who was himself deposed in a January 2022 coup by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Damiba was then ousted in September 2022 by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

Geography

Burkina Faso consists largely of a vast lateritic plateau, part of the West African Sahel, with an average elevation between 200 and 300 meters. The country features three principal rivers: the Mouhoun, the Nazinon, and the Nakambé. The north is characterized by Sahelian savanna, while the south transitions to Sudanian Savanna with greater tree cover. Key natural features include the Sindou Peaks near Banfora and the Arli National Park in the southeast. The climate is tropical with a pronounced dry season, and the country is prone to periodic droughts, such as those during the Sahel droughts of the 1970s and 1980s.

Government and politics

Burkina Faso is currently under the control of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, a military junta led by Ibrahim Traoré. The transitional charter suspended the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly. Previous political institutions included the Congress for Democracy and Progress and the People's Movement for Progress. The country's judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court. Foreign relations have shifted under the junta, moving away from former partners like France and towards alliances with Russia, Mali, and Niger under the Alliance of Sahel States. Internal politics are heavily influenced by the ongoing conflict with groups like Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.

Economy

The economy is predominantly agrarian, with over 80% of the workforce engaged in subsistence farming and livestock rearing. Major cash crops include cotton, sesame, and shea nuts, with gold mining, operated by companies like Iamgold and Endeavour Mining, being the leading export and industrial activity. The country is part of the West African Economic and Monetary Union and uses the West African CFA franc. Significant economic challenges include vulnerability to climate shocks, limited infrastructure, and the economic impact of internal conflict, which has displaced over two million people. Development projects have historically been supported by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and agencies like the United States Agency for International Development.

Demographics

Burkina Faso has a young and rapidly growing population, with a median age under 18. The largest ethnic groups are the Mossi, who constitute over half the population, followed by the Fulani, Gurunsi, Bobo, and Dyula. Islam is the majority religion, practiced by about 63% of the population, followed by Christianity and indigenous beliefs like the Bwa mask tradition. French is the official language, but Mòoré, Fula, and Dioula are widely spoken. Major urban centers include the capital Ouagadougou, the cultural hub Bobo-Dioulasso, and cities like Koudougou, Ouahigouya, and Banfora.

Culture

Burkinabé culture is renowned for its vibrant arts scene, epitomized by the biennial Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou and the International Art and Craft Fair. Traditional music utilizes instruments like the balafon, djembe, and kora, with famous musicians including Farafina and George Ouédraogo. The country has a strong literary tradition with authors like Nazi Boni and Monique Ilboudo. Cinema is celebrated through the work of directors such as Idrissa Ouédraogo, Gaston Kaboré, and Fanta Régina Nacro. Sporting culture is dominated by football, with the national team, the Stallions, having competed in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Traditional festivals, like the Moroccan-inspired Festima mask festival in Dédougou, are major cultural events.

Category:Burkina Faso Category:Landlocked countries Category:French-speaking countries and territories