Forgotten World (129): Burkina Faso
Formerly called Upper Volta and a French colony until 1960, Burkina Faso (which translates as “land of honest men”) is a country of 15 million which has spent many of its post-independence years under military rule with repeated coups, especially during the 1980s. Coup leader Blaise Compaore won a new five-year term in 2005 after 18 years at the helm.
A poor country even by West African standards, landlocked Burkina Faso has suffered from recurring droughts. The country has significant reserves of gold, but cotton production – an industry vulnerable to changes in world prices – is the economic mainstay for many Burkinabes. The UN rates Burkina Faso as the world’s third poorest country.
Burkina Faso has been linked to conflicts within the region, notably Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.