One of the poorest of the African nations, Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in the southern part of Africa's great bulge. Formerly known as Upper Volta, it was affiliated economically with France, which ruled it for more than 60 years. The country's capital and largest city is Ouagadougou ( see Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso). The country was originally named for the three upper branches of the Volta River that flow through it. These are the Black Volta, the White Volta, and the Red Volta. A tributary, the Sourou, joins them in the north as they flow southward toward Ghana and converge to form the Volta River. With an area of 105,946 square miles (274,378 square kilometers), Burkina Faso occupies a low plateau that slopes downward to the south. It is bounded on the north and west by Mali; on the south by Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo; and on the east by Benin and Niger. Much of the country's surface is covered in wild grassland or desert. Most of the woodlands have been cleared for farming, though only about 10 percent of Burkina Faso's land is under cultivation. Some of the few remaining forests have been set aside as wildlife preserves. Animals include antelope, lions, elephants, buffalo, hippopotamuses, monkeys, and crocodiles. The disease-causing tsetse and simulium flies are widespread. The climate is generally sunny, hot, and dry, since the southern part of the country is only about 10 degrees north of the equator, and the northern part is just south of the Sahara. Rainfall ranges from less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) a year in the northern parts to about 40 inches (100 centimeters) in the southern parts. People and EconomyAlmost one half of the population is younger than 15, and most people live in rural areas. French is the official language, but Moré is spoken by a majority of the population and Dyula and Hausa are the languages of commerce. Almost one half of the population practices tribal religions, and many of the rest are Muslims. About 12 percent are Christians. The largest ethnic group is the Mossi, who make up about half the population. Folklore reflects the country's ethnic diversity. Malnutrition and such diseases as malaria, tetanus, measles, and leprosy are common. Health and sanitary conditions are poor. The infant mortality rate is very high, and life expectancy is only about 48 years for men and 51 years for women. School enrollment is among the lowest in Africa. Less than 19 percent of the population above the age of 15 is literate. The only institution of higher learning in Burkina Faso is the University of Ouagadougou. Agriculture is the chief industry, with most people engaged in subsistence farming or stock raising. Crops include sorghum, millet, sugarcane, corn (maize), and pulses. Goats, sheep, and cattle are raised in large numbers, and live animals are exported. Cotton, meat, hides, and skins are also exported. Severe drought conditions have made the economy suffer, resulting in substantial migration to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana each year. Small quantities of gold are mined, and large deposits of manganese and bauxite are known to exist. Manufacturing plants include cotton gins, rice and flour mills, a sugar refinery, and a textile mill. Service industries account for a small portion of the work force. Communications are mostly inadequate. Burkina Faso has one of the most poorly developed transportation networks in West Africa. It has one railroad, which connects Ouagadougou with the Côte d'Ivoire port of Abidjan. There are about 7,000 miles (11,300 kilometers) of roads, of which about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) are paved. Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso have international airports. History and Government - Although France relinquished its authority over Burkina Faso in 1960, it continues to maintain an …
The Bobo, Gurunsi, and Lobi peoples were the earliest known inhabitants of the region. In the 15th century the Mossi and Gurma tribes established themselves in the central and eastern areas of the region. The Mossi kingdoms of Yatenga and Ouagadougou were still in existence in the early 20th century. In 1897 a French military force persuaded the Mossi ruler to place his country under a protectorate. The French also annexed the lands of the Bobo and Lobi peoples. Upper Volta was made a district of French West Africa in 1919. In 1958 it became an autonomous republic in the French community. Upper Volta achieved full independence in 1960 and joined the United Nations. Maurice Yaméogo was the first president and helped establish a new constitution. In 1966 the military seized power, and the country was under military and civilian control. Civilian governments were overthrown in 1974 and again in 1980. Another coup, in 1982, was headed by Maj. Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo, who promised a return to civilian rule. He was overthrown by his former prime minister, Capt. Thomas Sankara, in August 1983. Sankara became president of the National Revolutionary Council (NRC). In 1984 Upper Volta was renamed Burkina Faso (which means “Country of Honesty,” or “Country of Honest Men”). Sankara, who served as president of the NRC, chief of the army, and head of state, was overthrown in October 1987 by his former chief adviser, Capt. Blaise Compaoré. Sankara and 12 of his aides were executed during the coup, and the NRC was dissolved. Compaoré consolidated power with two others—Capt. Henri Zongo and Maj. Jean-Baptiste Boukari Lingani—and called the new government the Popular Front. The Popular Front established a new government structure of a legislature, a coordinating committee, and an executive committee. Zongo and Ligani were executed in September 1989 for plotting to overthrow Compaoré, and a December 1989 coup attempt by “foreign mercenaries” was foiled. In June 1991 voters approved a new constitution that provided for separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. (See also Africa.) Population (1989 estimate), 8,714,000. |