Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, sharing borders with Mali, Niger, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. It has a history of various groups of people and governments, gaining full independence from France in 1960. The country has a tropical climate, flat terrain, and recurring droughts that harm agriculture, which is a key part of the economy. Burkina Faso has a low GDP and literacy rate, and many citizens work as seasonal farm laborers in neighboring countries. The country has a high death rate from AIDS, but the epidemic appears to be declining. The official language is French, and the country’s name means “the land of upright people.” Burkina Faso is generally considered one of the safest and friendliest countries for tourists in Africa.
Burkina Faso, formerly known as Upper Volta, is a landlocked country located in West Africa, sharing borders with Mali, Niger, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Most of the country is savannah, crossed by three main rivers: the Mouhoun River, the Nakambé River and the Nazinon River, formerly known as the Black, White and Red Volta respectively.
Hunter-gatherers may have lived in the area as early as 12000 BC, with various groups of people and governments following that, including the Songhai Empire in the 1400s and 1500s. In 1896, the Mossi kingdom of Ouagadougou fell to the French and a French protectorate was established, shortly after becoming a colony.
Burkina Faso gained full independence from France in 1960. Over the next two decades, the country experienced repeated military coups, with Captain Thomas Sankara becoming president in 1983. Another coup occurred in 1987, with the death of Sankara and President Blaise Compaore who gained power in 1987. When multi-party elections were held in the 1990s, Compaore continued to win, holding office in 2007.
With a tropical climate, Burkina Faso has hot, humid summers and warm, dry winters. Most of the country is flat, with some hills to the west and southwest. Prone to recurring droughts, lack of water, desertification, deforestation and overgrazing are harming agriculture which is a key part of Burkina Faso’s economy. One of the lowest GDPs in the world, Burkina Faso has a per capita income of $1200 US dollars.
Many citizens of Burkina Faso, called Burkinabe, work as seasonal farm laborers in neighboring countries. Recently, their employment has been interrupted by political conditions in the Ivory Coast and Northern Ghana. According to the United Nations Development Program report, Burkina Faso is the most illiterate country in the world, with a literacy rate of less than 13%.
In 2007 Burkina Faso’s population numbered over 14 million people; the country has a high death rate from AIDS and an average life expectancy of less than 50 years. However, the AIDS epidemic appears to be declining in this country, with the lowest proportion of HIV-positive people in sub-Saharan Africa: 2.3% of the population in 2006, down from 7.2% of the population in 1997.
Although the official language of Burkina Faso is French, native languages include Mooré and Dioula. In 1984, President Thomas Sankara changed the country’s name from the Republic of Upper Volta. Burkina Faso means “the land of upright people”, with Burkina literally meaning “men of integrity” in Moore and Faso translating as “father’s house” in Dioula.
While there is not much tourism in Burkina Faso, it is generally considered one of the safest and friendliest countries for tourists in Africa. Ouagadougou Airport receives flights from some international cities, or buses and trains are also available from neighboring countries.
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