Government (Burkina)
====================


     Long-form name:
         Burkina Faso
     Type:
         military; established by coup on 4 August 1983
     Capital:
         Ouagadougou
     Administrative divisions:
         30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou,
         Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga,
         Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie,
         Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
     Independence:
         5 August 1960 (from France; formerly Upper Volta)
     Constitution:
         June 1991
     Legal system:
         based on French civil law system and customary law
     National holiday:
         Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
     Executive branch:
         President, Council of Ministers
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) was dissolved on 25
         November 1980
     Judicial branch:
         Appeals Court
     Leaders:
       Chief of State and Head of Government:
         President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
     Political parties and leaders:
         Organization for Popular Democracy (ODP/MT), ruling party; Coordination of
         Democratic Forces (CFD), composed of opposition parties
     Suffrage:
         none
     Elections:
         the National Assembly was dissolved 25 November 1980; presidential election
         held December 1991 and legislative election scheduled for 24 May 1992
     Communists:
         small Communist party front group; some sympathizers
     Other political or pressure groups:
         committees for the defense of the revolution, watchdog/political action
         groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities
     Member of:
         ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
         ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
         ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL,
         WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
     Diplomatic representation:
         Ambassador Paul Desire KABORE; Chancery at 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
         Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-5577 or 6895
       US:
         Ambassador Edward P. BYRNN; Embassy at Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
         (mailing address is 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou); telephone [226] 30-67- 23
         through 25 and [226] 33-34-22; FAX [226] 31-23-68
     Flag:
         two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed
         star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia