Africa A to Z: Continental and Country Profiles: Third Edition

Burkina Faso

COUNTRY PROFILES A-Z 112 Africa A-Z: Continental and Country Profiles | Africa Institute of South Africa Burkina Faso Orientation Formerly known as Upper Volta, the country lies in the heart of Western Africa, to the south of the middle section of the great Niger River. The country lies across the upper reaches of the Volta River system and is the smallest of three landlocked countries in this part of Africa. Its nearest outlets to the sea are through southern neighbours Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. Much of Burkina Faso consists of flat to undulating, lowlying plains, covered by semi-arid savanna and sahelian vegetation. Ouagadougou, the national capital, lies in the middle of the country and is the largest urban centre with some 700 000 inhabitants. The southern, central and western plains have the largest population concentrations, while the northern and eastern parts are sparsely populated. People The 13 million or so Burkinabé (citizens of Burkina Faso) are generally speakers of Gur or Voltaic languages. At least half the population belong to the Mossi (Moore) group. Fulani groups inhabit the dry north that forms part of the Sahel natural region. In the southwest are Mande-speaking groups related to the people of neighbouring Mali. Most of the people are Muslims but many Burkinabe continue to profess traditional ethnic faiths. Economy The population is overwhelmingly rural, depending on subsistence farming and nomadic livestock raising. About 13% of the land is arable but susceptible to the vagaries of rainfall. Many thousands of Burkinabé earn a living in other countries, notably Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Cotton is the main cash crop while livestock is a mainstay of the economy. Gold production became important in the 1990s but the mining sector in general is awaiting more investment. History The Mossi kings ruled over successive states several centuries ago. These kingdoms resisted onslaughts from the Mali and Songhai empires that arose on the Niger River in ancient times; neither were they Islamised, though many people in this area have since adopted Islam. In 1895-1996 France annexed the Mossi homeland that lost its identity, having been absorbed into the vast French West African empire. COUNTRY PROFILES A-Z Africa Institute of South Africa | Africa A-Z: Continental and Country Profiles 113 Upper Volta In 1919 the French created the colony of Upper Volta (Haute Volta) that included the former Mossi territories. In 1932 Upper Volta was carved up between the neighbouring colonies of Côte d’Ivoire, French Soudan (now Mali) and Niger. In 1947 Upper Volta was restored as a political entity and in 1958 it became an autonomous republic within the French West African family of states. Contemporary Politics The country is a unitary republic, subdivided into 30 provinces and various local government units. Upper Volta’s leading politicians were heavily influenced by the policies of Côte d’Ivoire’s leader, Felix Houphouët-Boigny, during the 1950s. On 5 August 1960 the independent Republic of Upper Volta came into existence under President Maurice Yameogo, an ally of Houphouët-Boigny. Yameogo turned the country into a single-party dictatorship, though he was removed from office in Upper Volta’s first military coup in January 1966. General Sangoule Lamizana headed a military dictatorship for nearly 15 years before army officers deposed him, in November 1980. Power Struggles Successive power struggles in the military led to further leadership changes and the rise to power of Captain Thomas Sankara in August 1983. Sankara followed radical socialist policies that proved popular with the people. He changed the country’s name to Burkina Faso in 1983. In October 1987, Sankara was killed by soldiers under the command of Captain Blaise Compaore, one of his closest allies. Although Compaore was accused of being responsible for Sankara’s death, he became military head of state. Burkina Faso COUNTRY PROFILES A-Z 114 Africa A-Z: Continental and Country Profiles | Africa Institute of South Africa Regional Affiliations Burkina Faso is a member of both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Union économique et monétaire ouest africaine (UEMOA). During the Liberian civil war in the 1990s Pres Compaore caused dissension within ECOWAS by his backing for Charles Taylor’s rebel force. Recent Trends and Events ■ President Compaore responded to the pro- democracy climate that swept across Africa from the late 1980s...