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National Trade Data Bank
ITEM ID     : ST BNOTES BURKINAF
DATE        : Oct 28, 1994

AGENCY      : U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
PROGRAM     : BACKGROUND NOTES
TITLE       : Background Notes - BURKINA

Source key      : ST
Program key     : ST BNOTES
Update sched.   : Occasionally
Data type       : TEXT
End year        : 1992
Date of record  : 19941018
Keywords 3      :
Keywords 3      : | BURKINA FASO

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BACKGROUND NOTES:  BURKINA FASO

PROFILE
Geography
Area:  274,200 sq. km. (106,000 sq. mi); about the size of Colorado.
Cities:  Capital-Ouagadougou (pop. 500,000).  Other
cities-Bobo-Dioulasso (250,000), Koudougou (70,000).  Terrain:
Savanna; brushy plains, and scattered hills.  Climate:  Sahelian;
pronounced wet and dry seasons.


People
Nationality:  Noun and adjective-Burkinab .  Population (1988):  8.5
million.  Annual growth rate (1985):  3.3%.  Ethnic groups:  Mossi,
Bobo, Mande, Fulani, others.  Religions:  Traditional African 45%,
Muslim 40%, Christian 15%.  Languages:  French (official), More,
others.  Education:  Attendance-(1985): 32%.  Literacy-27%.  Health:
Infant mortality rate-152/1,000.  Life expectancy-48 yrs.  Work force:
 Agriculture-92%.  Industry-2.1.  Commerce, services, and
government-5.5%.


Government
Type:  Military.  Independence:  August 5, 1960. Constitution:
November 27, 1977 (abolished Nov. 25, 1980).

Branches:  Executive-president (chief of state, head of government).
Legislative-none.  Judicial-independent.
Subdivisions:  30 provinces.

Political parties:  Five political organizations recognized under the
umbrella organization of the Popular Front; two are Marxist-Leninist,
and three are social democratic. Suffrage:  N/A.

Central government budget (1987):   $174 million.

Defense (1987 est.):  16% of government budget.

National holiday:  Revolution Day,     August 4.

Flag:  Two horizontal bands-red and green top to bottom, with a
yellow star in the middle.

Economy
GDP (1987 est.):  $1.6 billion.  Annual growth rate (1982-87):  4.3%.
Per capita income (1987):  $174.  Avg. inflation rate 1987, -2.1%;
1988:  4.4%
Natural resources (limited quantites): Manganese, gold, limestone,
marble, phosphate, zinc.

Agriculture (36.4% of GNP):  Products-cotton, millet, sorghum, rice,
livestock, peanuts, shea nuts, maize.

Industry (22% of GNP):  Types-mining, agricultural processing plants,
brewing and bottling, light industry,
Trade (1987):  Exports-f.o.b. $233.6 million:  cotton, gold, livestock,
peanuts, shea nut products.  Major markets-C te d'Ivoire, European
Community, China.  Imports-c.i.f. $535.8 million.

Official exchange rate (1988):  Floats with French franc Communaut
Financi re Africaine (CFA) francs 50=1FF; about 300 CFA
francs=US$1.

Fiscal year:  Calendar year.


Membership in International Organizations
UN and some of its specialized and related agencies; Organization
of African Unity (OAU); Council of the Entente; West African
Economic Community (CEAO); Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS-Burkina recently hosted an ECOWAS
summit where Blaise Compaore was elected president of the
organization); West African Monetary Union (WAMU); Niger Basin
Authority; Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in
the Sahel (CILSS); INTELSAT; Sahel Club; Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC); Nonaligned Movement; Lome Convention.


GEOGRAPHY
Burkina Faso is a landlocked Sahel country that shares borders with
six nations.  It lies between the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of
Guinea, south of the loop of the Niger River.  The land is green in the
south, with forests and fruit trees, and desert in the north.  Most of
central Burkina Faso lies on a savanna plateau, 198-305 meters
(650-1,000 ft.) above sea level, with fields, brush, and scattered
trees.  Burkina Faso's game preserves-the most important of which
are Arly, Nazinga, and Park W-contain lions, elephants,
hippopotamus, monkeys, warthog, and antelopes.  Tourism is not
well developed.

Annual rainfall varies from about 100 centimeters (40 in.) in the south
to less than 25 centimeters (10 in.) in the extreme north and
northeast, where hot desert winds accentuate the dryness of the
region.  Burkina Faso has three distinct seasons: warm and dry
(November-March); hot and dry (March-May); and hot and wet
(June-October).  Rivers are not navigable.


PEOPLE

Burkina Faso's 8.5 million people belong to two major West African
cultural groups-the Voltaic and the Mand .  The Voltaic are far more
numerous and include the Mossi, which make up about one-half of
the population.  The Mossi claim descent from warriors who migrated
to present-day Burkina Faso and established an empire that lasted
more than 800 years.  Predominantly farmers, the Mossi are still
bound by the traditions of the emperor, the Moro Naba, who holds
court in Ouagadougou.  About 5,000 Europeans reside in Burkina
Faso.

Most of Burkina Faso's people are concentrated in the south and
center of the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometer
(125/sq. mi.).  This population density, high for Africa, causes annual
migrations of hundreds of thousands of Burkinab  to C te d'Ivoire
and Ghana for seasonal agricultural work.
A plurality of Burkinab  adhere to traditional African religions.  The
introduction of Islam to Burkina Faso was initially resisted by the
Mossi rulers.  Christians, predominantly Catholics, are largely
concentrated among the urban  lite.

Few Burkinab  have had formal education.  Schooling is free but not
compulsory, and only about 29% of Burkina Faso's primary
school-age children receive a basic education.  The country's sole
institution of higher education, the University of Ouagadougou, was
founded in 1974.


HISTORY

Until the end of the 19th century, the history of Burkina Faso was
dominated by the empire-building Mossi, who are believed to have
come from central or eastern Africa sometime in the 11th century.
For centuries, the Mossi peasant was both farmer and soldier, and
the Mossi people were able to defend their religious beliefs and
social structure against forcible attempts to convert them to Islam by
Muslims from the northwest.

When the French arrived and claimed the area in 1896, Mossi
resistance ended with the capture of their capital at Ouagadougou.
In 1919, certain provinces from the Ivory Coast were united into a
separate colony called the Upper Volta in the French West Africa
federation.  In 1932, the new colony was dismembered in a move to
economize; it was reconstituted in 1937 as an administrative division
called the Upper Coast.  After World War II, the Mossi renewed their
pressure for separate territorial status, and on September 4, 1947,
Upper Volta became a French West African territory again in its own
right.

A revision in the organization of French Overseas Territories began
with the passage of the Basic Law (Loi Cadre) of July 23, 1956.  This
act was followed by reorganizational measures approved by the
French parliament early in 1957 that ensured a large degree of
self-government for individual territories.  Upper Volta became an
autonomous republic in the French Community on December 11,
1958.

Upper Volta achieved independence on August 5, 1960.  The first
president, Maurice Yam ogo, was the leader of the Voltaic
Democratic Union (UDV).  The 1960 constitution provided for election
by universal suffrage of a president and a national assembly for
5-year terms.  Soon after coming to power, Yam ogo banned all
political parties other than the UDV.  The government lasted until
1966 when after much unrest-mass demonstrations and strikes by
students, labor unions, and civil servants-the military intervened.  The
military coup deposed Yam ogo, suspended the constitution,
dissolved the National Assembly, and placed Lt. Col. Aboukar
Sangoul  Lamizana at the head of a government of senior army
officers.  The army remained in power for 4 years, and on June 14,
1970, the Voltans ratified a new constitution that established a 4-year
transition period toward complete civilian rule.  Lamizana remained
in power throughout the 1970s as president of military or mixed
civil-military governments.  After conflict over the 1970 constitution,
a new constitution was written and approved in 1977, and Lamizana
was re-elected by open elections in 1978.

Lamizana's government faced problems with the country's
traditionally powerful trade unions, and on November 25, 1980, Col.
Saye Zerbo overthrew President Lamizana in a bloodless coup.
Colonel Zerbo established the Military Committee of Recovery for
National Progress (CMRPN) as the supreme governmental authority,
thus eradicating the 1977 constitution.  Since then, the country has
been under military rule.

Colonel Zerbo also encountered resistance from trade unions and
was overthrown 2 years later, on November 7, 1982, by Maj. Dr.
Jean-Baptiste Ou draogo and the Council of Popular Salvation
(CSP). The CSP continued to ban political parties and organizations,
yet promised a transition to civilian rule and a new constitution.

Factional infighting developed between the moderates in the CSP
and the radicals, led by Capt. Thomas Sankara, who was appointed
prime minister in January 1983.  The internal political struggle and
Sankara's leftist rhetoric led to his arrest and subsequent efforts to
bring about his release, directed by Capt. Blaise Compaor .  This
release effort resulted in yet another military coup d'etat on August
4, 1983.
After the coup, Sankara formed the National Council for the
Revolution (CNR), with himself as president.  Sankara also
established Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs) to
"mobilize the masses" and implement the CNR's revolutionary
programs.  The CNR, whose exact membership remained secret until
the end, contained two small intellectual Marxist-Leninist groups.
Sankara, Compaor , Capt. Henri Zongo and Maj. Jean-Baptiste
Boukary Lengani, all leftist military officers, dominated the regime.

The CNR's policies focused on the peasantry and the redistribution
of wealth, yet were more nationalist than Maoist.  On August 4, 1984,
Upper Volta changed its name to Burkina Faso, meaning "the
country of upright people."  Sankara, a charismatic leader, sought by
word, deed, and example to mobilize the masses and launch a
massive bootstrap development movement.  But many of the strict
austerity measures taken by Sankara met with growing resistance
and disagreement.  Despite his initial popularity and personal
charisma, problems began to surface in the implementation of the
revolutionary ideals.
One of the key problems involved the conflicting role of the CDR's
and the several trade unions.  The latter attempted to retain their
traditional independent power base, but the government moved to
block efforts and arrested and intimidated union leaders.  At the
same time, the CDR's, which were formed as popular mass
organizations, deteriorated in some areas into gangs of armed thugs.
By 1987, tensions over the repressive tactics of the government and
its overall direction were mounting steadily.  On October 15, 1987,
Sankara was assassinated and Compaor  became leader of the
newly formed Popular Front (FP).


GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

President Compaor  and the Popular Front pledged to continue and
pursue the goals of the revolution and to "rectify" Sankara's
"deviations" from the original aims.  Compaore, Zongo, and Lengani
formed the core of the FP, along with three small groups of leftist
military and civilians.  The new government, realizing the need for
popular support, tacitly changed many of Sankara's policies.  The FP
lowered the price of beer, rehired civil servants fired by Sankara,
raised civil servants' salaries, and disarmed the CDR's, which were
renamed Revolutionary Committees (CR).

The political situation has stabilized and moderated considerably
since October 1987.  As part of a much-discussed political "opening"
process, several political organizations, three of them non-Marxist,
have been accepted under an umbrella political organization created
in June 1979 by the Popular Front.  Right-wing political organizations
associated with the pre-1983 period remain on the fringes.


Principal Government Officials
President of the Popular Front, Chief of State, Head of
Government-Capt. Blaise Compaor
Ministers
People's Defense and Security Affairs-Maj. Boukary Jean-Baptiste
Lengani
Economic Promotion-Capt. Henri Zongo
Coordination with the Popular Front-Oumarou Cl ment Ou draogo
Peasant's Cooperative Action-Capt. Laurent S dogo
External Relations-Issouf Go
Information and Culture-B atrice Damiba
Health and Social Action-Kanidoua Nabao
Sports-Capt. Theodore Kilimit  Hien
Labor, Social Security and Public Functions-Salif Sampebogo
Finances-Bintou Sanogho
Guardian of the Seal, Minister of Justice-Sambo Antoine Komi
Transport and Communications-Thomas Sanon
Secondary and Higher Education, Scientific Research-Mouhoussine
Nacro
Primary Education and Literacy-Alice Tiendreb ogo
Environment and Tourism-Maurice Dieudonn  Bonanet
Territorial Administration-Jean L onard Compaor
Commerce and People's Supply-Fr d ric Assumption Korsaga
Equipment-Daprou Kambou
Water-Alfred Nombr
Agriculture-Albert Guigma
Secretary General of the Government and the Council of
Ministers-Prosper Vokouma
Ambassador to the United States-Paul Kabor

Burkina Faso maintains an embassy in the United States at 2340
Massachusetts Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20008 (tel. [phone]).


ECONOMY

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with GNP per
capita estimated at $174.  Approximately 80% of the population relies
on subsistence agriculture, with only a small fraction directly involved
in industry and services.  The agricultural economy remains highly
vulnerable to fluctuations in rainfall.  Drought, poor soil, lack of
adequate communications and other infrastructure, a low literacy
rate, and a stagnant economy are all longstanding problems.  The
export economy also remains subject to fluctuations in world prices.

Many Burkinab  migrate to neighboring countries for work, and their
remittances provide a substantial contribution to the balance of
payments.  Burkina Faso suffers chronic budget and
balance-of-payments deficits and increasing arrears.  It is attempting
to improve the economy by developing its mineral resources,
improving its infrastructure, making its agricultural and livestock
sectors more productive and competitive, and stabilizing the supplies
and prices of food grains.
President Compaor  has spoken increasingly of the need for an
active business community, and attitudes within the private sector
seem positive for the future.  Currently, Burkina is negotiating with
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to obtain
economic support.

About 87% of the labor force works in the agricultural sector.  These
subsistance farmers eke out a living amidst problems of climate, soil
composition, soil erosion, and rudimentary technology.  The staple
crops are millet, sorghum, maize, and rice, and the cash crops are
cotton, groundnuts, karit  (shea nuts) and sesame. Livestock, once
a major export, has declined.

Industry, still in an embryonic stage, is located primarily in
Bobo-Dioulasso, Ouagadougou, Banfora, and Koudougou.
Manufacturing is limited to food processing, textiles, and other
import-substitution, heavily protected by tariffs.  Some factories are
privately owned, and government policy shows increasing support for
expansion of the private sector.  Burkina Faso's exploitable natural
resources are limited, although a manganese ore deposit is located
in the remote northeast.  Gold mining has increased significantly
since the mid-1980s, and in 1988 gold replaced cotton for the first
time as the country's leading export money earner.

The Abidjan-Niger railroad (RAN) connects Burkina with the excellent
deepwater port at Abidjan, C te d'Ivoire, 1,150 kilometers (712 mi.)
away.  Burkina Faso has about 11,150 kilometers (7,120 mi.) of
roads, although only 1,300 kilometers have all-weather surfaces.


FOREIGN RELATIONS

After taking power, the Sankara regime proclaimed its affinity with
Cuba, Libya, North Korea, and the Soviet Union while trying
simultaneously to obtain increased support from its principal donors
in Western Europe and the United States. The Compaor  regime has
focused on good relations with neighbors and a less confrontational
stance with Western nations, while maintaining its rhetorical support
for anti-imperialistic states.


DEFENSE

The Burkinab  Armed Forces, including the gendarmerie, number
about 8,500, and include 7,000 army and 200 air force personnel, in
addition to 1,300 paramilitary gendarmerie and other security forces.
The air force has nine fixed-wing aircraft.  Military regiments are
stationed in Ouagadougou, Dedougou, Dori, Ouahigouya,
Bobo-Dioulasso, and Po.

Burkina Faso's military has played an important role in the nation's
history.  Frequently, the military has controlled the government or
has guaranteed the power of civilian leaders.  In addition, military
personnel often perform development tasks requiring special
engineering or other technical skills not generally found in the civilian
population.

The United States sponsors a specialized military training program
for Burkina Faso that has brought about 30 military personnel to the
United States.  France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United
Kingdom, the Soviet Union, North Korea, the Netherlands, Morocco,
Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, and Libya also have provided training for
the Burkinab  military.

US-BURKINA RELATIONS

The United States generally has good relations with Burkina Faso
and supports its economic development.  US commercial interests
are small but growing in Burkina Faso.  Minerals exploration, solar
energy, communications equipment, water resources, livestock
production, and food processing offer potential areas for commercial
investment.

The US development assistance program in Burkina Faso grew out
of the US response to the drought that plagued the Sahel countries
from 1968 to 1974.  Between 1973 and 1975, Burkina Faso was a
major recipient of US emergency food assistance.  Following this, the
United States and other international donors began to work with the
Sahel countries to plan and implement long term development
assistance programs.  Fiscal year 1989 budget figures are $9.5
million in food aid and $2.9 million in project aid.  The United States
maintained a Peace Corps program in Burkina Faso until the 1987,
when the Sankara government allowed the agreement to lapse.


Principal US Officials
Ambassador-David H. Shinn
Counselor of Embassy-Robert M. Beecroft
Political/Economic Officer; Commercial Attach -David C. Becker
Political/Military Officer-Michael E. Dougherty
Administrative Officer-Walter J. Woolwine
AID Representative-Wilbur G. Thomas
Public Affairs Officer  (USIS)-Cynthia B. Caples

The US Embassy in Burkina Faso is located on Avenue Raoul
Follereau in Ouagadougou.  Its mailing addresses are: (international
mail) 01 B.P. 35, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso; (US mail)
Ouagadougou/DOS, Washington, DC 20521-2440; tel. (226)
30-67-23/24/25), telex: AEMB 5290 BF; FAX: (226)
30-89-03.


TRAVEL NOTES

Customs:  Visas and yellow fever innoculations are required for
entry.


Climate and clothing:  Except for the rainy season (June-Oct.), the
climate is similar to Arizona's.  Summer clothing is suitable for
Ouagadougou; a light wrap is recommended during the cool season
(Nov.-Feb.).


Health:  Local medical services are limited.  Unwashed fruits and
vegetables and undercooked meats are unsafe to eat.  Tap water is
not potable; bottled mineral water is available at hotels and
restaurants.  Malaria suppressants should be started 2 weeks before
arrival and continue 8 weeks after departure.  Burkina has
chloroquine-resistant malaria.  Typhoid and gamma globulin
(hepatitis) innoculations are recommended for travel in rural areas.
Do not swim in lakes or streams, which may be infested with
bilharzia.  Health requirements change; check latest information.


Transportation:  Ouagadougou's international airport is served by
several weekly flights from Paris, Abdijan, Niamey, Bamako, Dakar,
Algiers, Moscow, and Tripoli.  Air Burkina operates all year between
the capital and other large towns in Burkina Faso, as well as to
Niamey, Bamako, Lome, Cotonou, and Abidjan.  Ouagadougou is
linked by paved roads to Lome, Abidjan, Niamey and Bamako, and
by rail to Abidjan.  The uncertainty of road conditions complicates
transportation elsewhere.  Taxis are available in large towns.


Telecommunications:  Long-distance telephone service is via satellite.
Cable, telex, and FAX services are available.  Cable and telex are
more reliable.  Ouagadougou is five standard time zones ahead of
eastern standard time.


Tourist attractions:  Although by international standards tourist
facilities seem limited, Burkina Faso does present tourist
opportunities for the adventurous traveler.  Worthwhile visits include
the National Museum and artisan centers in Ouagadougou and
Bobo-Dioulasso, the Nazinga, Arly and Park W game preserves, and
interesting market towns such as Gorom-Gorom.  For details, write
the Office National Du tourisme du Burkina Faso, 01 B.P. 624,
Ouagadougou.

Every other February, Burkina hosts a widely attended International
African Film Festival called FESPACO.


Further Information

These titles are provided as a general indication of material published
on this country.  The Department of State does not endorse unofficial
publications.


Andriamirado, Sennen. Il s'Appelait Sankara. Paris: Jeune  Afrique
Livres, 1989.

Blumenthal, Susan. Bright Continent.  Garden City:  Anchor
Press/Doubleday, 1984.

Politique Africaine, V.20 (December 1985), "Le Burkina Faso."  Paris:
Eds Karthala, 1985.

Savonnet-Guyot, Claudette. Etat et Societe au Burkina. Paris: Eds.
Karthala, 1986.

Skinner, Elliot P. The Mossi of the Upper Volta:  The Political
Development of a Sudanese People. Stanford:  Stanford University
Press, 1964. . "Sankara and the Burkinabe Revolution," in Journal of
Modern African Studies, Vol. 26, No. 3, Sept.1988, pp. 435-457.

Thompson, Virginia. West Africa's Council of the Entente. Ithaca:
Cornell University Press, 1972.



Published by the United States Department of State --  Bureau of
Public Affairs  -- Office of  Public Communication -- Washington, DC
-- June 1990  Editor:  Juanita Adams

Department of State Publication 8201
Background Notes Series  -- This material is in the public domain
and may  be reprinted without permission; citation of this source is
appreciated.


For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, US Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402