Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso A landlocked country in West Africa surrounded by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire.

Physical

Burkina Faso lies on a plateau, rising highest in the west and cut in the centre by the north-south route of the Volta River. The soils are mostly coarse and sandy, based on hard rock; the climate is hot and arid, and the natural vegetation except in the river valleys is thorn-scrub and thin savannah.

Economy

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world, heavily dependent on western aid. The economy is mainly agricultural and vulnerable to drought, with most of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture. The major exports are cotton and gold. There is some industry, mostly state-owned, with largely unexploited mineral deposits of gold, manganese, and zinc. Many Burkinabé seek employment abroad.

History

Before French colonization in the 19th century the region was ruled by a number of Mossi states. It was a French protectorate from 1898, originally as part of French Sudan (now Mali) and later as Haute Volta (Upper Volta). It became an autonomous republic within the FRENCH COMMUNITY in 1958 and independent in 1960. Following a military coup in 1970, a new constitution was adopted in 1977. A series of military governments followed, including those of Captain Thomas Sankara, who was assassinated in 1987, and of Blaise Compaore. The latter ended military rule in June 1991 and held multiparty elections, for which there were 44 eligible political parties. Compaore's Popular Front won these, and he became President. However, the opposition parties had withdrawn their candidates and there was a widespread boycott of the elections because of alleged corruption. Legislative elections, held in 1992, were won by supporters of Compaore. He was re-elected in 1998

Capital:	Ouagadougou
Area:	274,200 sq km (105,869 sq miles)
Population:	12,603,000 (2002 est)
Currency:	1 CFA franc = 100 centimes
Religions:	Traditional beliefs 65.0%; Muslim 25.0%; Roman Catholic 9.8%; Protestant 2.4%
Ethnic Groups:	Mossi 47.9%; Mande 8.8%; Fulani 8.3%; Lobi 6.9%; Bobo 6.8%; Senufo 6.0%; Grunshi 5.0%; Bunasi 5.0%; Gurma 4.5%
Languages:	French (official); Mossi; Dyula; Fulani; Lobi; local languages
International Organizations:	UN; OAU; Non-Aligned Movement; Franc Zone; ECOWAS