Domestically, the production and ginning of cotton is of prime importance to the burkinabeeconomy. The history of burkina faso includes the history of various kingdoms within the country, such as the mossi kingdoms, as well as the later french colonisation of the territory and its independence as the republic of upper volta in 1960. As of 2014 burkina faso had a total population of approximately 17. Burkina faso is a landlocked country located in west africa it is bordered by six countries mali to the north, niger to the east, benin to the southeast, togo and ghana to the south, and ivory coast to the southwest the official language is french as of 1 january 2017, the population of burkina faso was estimated to be 18,909,665 people it is the 74th largest country in the world in. The capital is ouagadougou in 2005, about,228,000 people lived in the country. The colony of upper volta was established in 1919, but it was dismembered and. From upper volta to burkina faso usf scholar commons. The ethnic minorities with a significant presence in the country are the fulani 8. Jan 24, 2020 the mining sector in burkina faso is considered one of the most dynamic in west africa. Political economy of growth and poverty in burkina faso dial ird. The northwestern part of presentday burkina faso was populated by huntergatherers from 14000 bc to 5000 bc. Researchers should contact the nearest embassy of burkina faso to inquire about the feasibility of research and location of relevant diplomatic records.
Their tools, including scrapers, chisels and arrowheads, were discovered in 1973 through archaeological excavations. By respecting these geographic priorities, unfpa has limited its direct support for services, for example, to a relatively restricted number of health centres. Burkina faso history until the end of the 19th century, the history of burkina faso is the history of the empirebuilding mossi. The service branches of the armed forces include its army, air force, national gendarmerie and peoples militia. From 1947 onwards, the geopolitical history of upper voltaburkina faso. The mossi is the largest ethnic community living in the country, comprising of 52% of the population. The country was initially referred to as the republic of upper volta and was renamed burkina faso by thomas sankara, on 4th august 1984. Mar 19, 2020 multiparty presidential and legislative elections held in late 2015 ushered in a new government and laid a foundation for the continued development of democratic institutions. Jan 27, 2014 what do i wish americans knew about burkina faso. Burkina faso political 1996 238k and pdf format 241k burkina faso political 1987 237k and pdf format 241k burkina faso shaded relief 1996 264k and pdf format 268k burkina faso small map 2016 21.
The next general census of population and housing rgph will be. Human development index, burkina faso is one of the least developed countries in africa. Literature in burkina faso is based on the oral tradition, which remains important. The geography of burkina faso is mostly flat savanna with access to three principal rivers. The index evaluates the quantity of information provided to citizens in the seven key budget documents that all governments should make. Burkina faso conflict insights vol 1 conflict insight.
Burkina faso does not publish its audit report and does not provide any information on whether the audit reports recommendations are successfully implemented. It used to be called upper volta and the name was changed to burkina faso in 1984. The main resources are gold, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphate and. The country changed its name to burkina faso in the. Pdf this commentary traces recent regime change and political transition in. Forces armees du burkina faso is the term used for the national military of burkina faso.
Burkina faso history and culture save burkina faso translates to land of the honest people and about half its population comes from a long line of warriors who once reigned over the most influential empires in the region for more than eight centuries 11th to 19th. The history of burkina faso is characterized by the existence of structurally well organized kingdoms in the center and the east of the country. The capital is ouagadougou in 2005, about,228,000 people lived. Brukina faso has a violent and fascinating history that can only be fully grasped if one has an understanding of the effects of colonization and postcolonization. By the 14th century the territory of presentday burkina faso was occupied by the bobo, lobi, gourounsi and the mossi. Burkina faso is situated on an extensive plateau, which is slightly inclined toward the south. Burkina faso is africas largest producer of cotton. History of migration as a means to social mobility. History of burkina faso including independence from 1960. Burkina faso open budget index 2006 scant or none minimal some substantial extensive 11% 50% 100% open budget index highlights burkina faso scores 11 percent out of a possible 100 percent on the open budget index 2006. Like in so many other african nations, children are the most vulnerable members of society. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. It covers an area of around 274,200 square kilometres 105,900 sq mi and is surrounded by six countries. This represents a 57% increase from 2003 when the population of burkina faso was approximately 11.
As one of the poorest countries in the world, burkina faso has around 44% of its population living under the poverty line. For centuries, the mossi peasant was both farmer and soldier, and the mossi people were able to defend their. Burkina faso archives countries office of the historian. The next general census of population and housing rgph will be conducted in late 2019. Cdc collaborates with burkina faso to build core public health capacities in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce development, and emergency management. Burkina faso formerly upper volta achieved independence from france in 1960. The mossi, who now make up almost half of burkina fasos population, founded their first kingdom more than 500 years ago in ouagadougou. Burkina faso ministry of health moh along with cdc and partners, successfully designed and piloted a reliable and cost effective specimen referral system which will be expanded over time to be a multipathogen, integrated system. A former french colony, it gained independence as upper volta in 1960. The northwestern part of presentday burkina faso was populated by huntergatherers from 14000 bc to 5000. Burkina faso simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Despite extreme poverty, terrorism, and corruption, civil society and the media remain strong forces for democracy and for the respect of civil liberties. Burkina faso upper volta summary the united states recognized upper volta on august 5, 1960, in a congratulatory message from president dwight d. Cotton is the mainstay of the countrys economy, earning over 200 million dollars in revenue each year. Burkina faso is one of the poorest countries in the world with just under half its population living under the poverty line. History of burkina faso the earliest inhabitants of burkina faso were the lobi, bobo and gurunasi tribes. Right to life slavery, slaverylike practices, inhuman and cruel, degrading and humiliating treatments, physical or moral torture, services and mistreatments inflicted on. Thomas sankara, marxist revolutions, postcolonial west african history. Interesting facts about burkina faso just fun facts. Until the end of the 19th century, the history of burkina faso was dominated by the empirebuilding mossi, who are believed to have come from central or eastern africa sometime in the 11th century. Both have large communities of artists, particularly ouagadougou, which. The french arrived and claimed the area in 1896, but mossi resistance ended only with the capture of their capital ouagadougou in 1901. The lateritic red, leached, ironbearing layer of rock that covers the underlying crystalline rocks is deeply incised by the countrys three principal riversthe black volta mouhoun, the red volta nazinon, and the white volta nakambeall of which converge in ghana to the south to form the volta river. After a period as part of the colony of upper senegalniger, the territory was. Burkina faso is a country located in africa south of the sahara.
Like all of the west of africa, burkina faso was populated early, notably by huntergatherers in the northwestern part of the country 12,000 to 5000 bc, and whose tools scrapers, chisels and arrowheads were discovered in 1973. The modern day country of burkina faso, meaning the country of honourable people is a neighbour to mali to the north, niger to the east, benin to the southeast, togo and ghana to the south and cote divoire ivory coast to the southwest. Geographical and historical treatment of burkina faso, including maps and a survey of its people, economy, and government. This chamber was constituted by an order of 3 april 1985. Until the end of the 19th century, the history of burkina faso is the history of the empirebuilding mossi. Burkina fasos ancient and precolonial history is only known in fragments, due to the lack of early and consistent written sources and the limited archaeological information available. Burkina faso, in its history, has experienced six coup. Mossi is the most widely spoken language of burkina faso, as it is spoken by nearly 40% of the countrys population. It is bounded by niger to the east, mali to the north and west, and benin, togo, ghana, and ivory coast to the south. Burkina faso history history until the end of the 19th century, the history of burkina faso was dominated by the empirebuilding mossi, who are believed to have come from central or eastern africa sometime in the 11th century. Burkina faso is also a phase one priority countryfor the us governmentsrole in supporting the global health security agenda, which seeks to accelerate progress toward a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats and to promote global health security as an international security priority.
The initial pilot referral system connects four district laboratories to. Burkina faso s natural resources include manganese, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt and small deposits of gold. Invaders from the south displaced them around the 15th century to make burkina faso a part of the great mossi empire, one of the strongest of the ancient african kingdoms. Burkina faso s fauna and flora are protected in two national parks and several reserves. Both have large communities of artists, particularly ouagadougou, which is famed for its music scene. Burkina faso with a stable source of foreign currency that has catalyzed economic development in other sectors. A guide to the united states history of recognition, diplomatic, and consular relations, by country, since 1776. The mossi empire was still in place when the whole region was annexed by the french in 1896. The lateritic red, leached, ironbearing layer of rock that covers the underlying crystalline rocks is deeply incised by the countrys three principal riversthe black volta mouhoun, the red volta nazinon, and the white volta nakambeall of which converge. Burkina faso was once a part of the great mossi empire, one of the strongest of ancient african kingdoms. P adm ins tr ave c p l town, vi lage o airport internationalo boundary provincial boundary main road sec on dary koupela t og b e n i n n i g e r 0 50 100km.
Its modern history starts with the mossi peoples now almost half of burkina fasos population, who moved westward from settlements near the niger river in the th century. Burkina faso history, language and culture history of burkina faso. Little is known about burkina fasos early history, though archaeological finds suggest that the country was populated as far back as the stone age. Burkina faso history history of burkina faso burkina. Media in category history of burkina faso the following 10 files are in this category, out of 10 total. On 14 october 1983 burkina faso then known as upper volta and mali notified to the court a special agreement referring to a chamber of the court the question of the delimitation of part of the land frontier between the two states. The country was once ruled by france, but it has been independent since 1960. History of burkina faso lonely planet travel information. Mar 21, 2011 burkina faso is a small, poor, landlocked country in west africa. Sponsor a child in burkina faso our childrens charity in burkina faso since 1997.
Citizens require both access to information, and opportunities during the budgets consideration to use that information, to ensure their informed participation in budget debates. According to legend and tradition, supported by some ethnographic evidence, the mossi entered the region from the 11th to the th century as a warrior group from central or east africa and subjugated the weaker aboriginal ninigi tribes. Burkina faso extractive industries transparency initiative. History until the end of the 19th century, the history of burkina faso was dominated by the empirebuilding mossi. In the years after independence in 1960, following the dissolution of french west africa, upper volta goes through many abrupt changes including five military coups in 1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987 and a change in the nations name, in 1984, to burkina faso. Burkina faso poverty poverty in burkina faso burkina. A marxistleninist and panafricanist, he was viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution and is sometimes referred to as africas che guevara. Before getting into burkina s history since the independence, i should offer a brief chronology of its history before and during french colonial rule. Most people living in the countrys urban areas are multilingual, while the rural population uses their native languages for common activities. Burkina faso poverty burkina faso is one of the poorest countries in the world with just under half its population living under the poverty line. The top half of the flag is a red horizontal band with a green equalsized horizontal band below.
Current president blaise compaore came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then. Sponsor a child in burkina faso sos childrens villages usa. Burkina faso is a lowincome, landlocked subsaharan african country with limited natural resources. In certain entries, open source content from the state department background. The purpose of this graph is to take a snapshot of a countrys economy in comparison to other economies. The history of burkina faso includes the history of various kingdoms within the country, such as. Hunters networks, 30 ivy hill road, brewster, ny 10509 845 2593628.
Before french invasion in 1896, the area including burkina faso was under the mossi kingdom, which originated in present day ghana and moved into other areas as its empire grew over the eight. The most widely harvested crop in burkina faso by area was sorghum with 1. Burkina faso is also a phase one priority countryfor the us governmentsrole in. The countrys history is made up of the history of a number of kingdoms, for instance, the mossi kingdoms, french colonization of the region, and its sovereignty in 1960 as the republic of upper volta. The flag of burkina faso is a striking display of red and green. Burkina fasos traditional cultures are best sampled in its two largest cities. Being a landlocked country, burkina faso has no navy. In the center of the flag, overlapping where the red and green colors meet, is a smallsized yellow fivepointed star. Burkina faso, landlocked country in western africa. The political history of burkina faso has been very unstable until president campaore took power in 1987. Burkina faso history history of burkina faso burkina faso. Burkina faso, previously known as upper volta, was once part of french west africa since 1896 until 1960. The country occupies an extensive plateau, and its geography is characterized by a savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. This small country is widely unknown but has strong values americans can learn from.
Suffering from limited natural resources and being landlocked, the country also has a high population density being home to 16 million citizens, 10% of who carry the aids virus. Emergency operations burkina faso has made immense progress in increasing rapid response and public health emergency management capacity. Its population, which is growing at an average annual rate of 3. Percentile ranks are calculated using the latest available data for all countries within the last 5 years. Burkina faso is a landlocked country in western africa that borders benin, cote divoire, ghana, mali, niger, and togo. General info hunt burkina faso western roan, buffalo. Recent excavations have shown that rich and stratified societies lived in permanent villages in. The development of the mining sector was made possible through intensified investment, the opening of industrial mines and an evolution of the legal and regulatory framework for the sector.