BURKINA FASO

Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation in West Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the south east, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the south west. Formerly the Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed on August 4, 1984 by President Thomas Sankara to mean "the land of upright people" in Mossi and Dioula, the major native languages of the country. Independence from France came in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana in search of paid labour. The inhabitants of Burkina Faso are known as Burkinabè or Burkinabé.

Location

West Africa. Burkina Faso is landlocked country but is the source of tributaries of the Volta River. Mali is located to the north and west, Niger to the east, and Benin, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast to the south.

Geography

Landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas.

Capital

Ouagadougou

Population

13,902,972

Climate

Tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers.

Language

French, Tribal languages

Monetary Unit

Franc CFA

Largest Cities

Bobo-Dioulasso, Koudougou, Ouahigouya, Banfora.

Principal rivers

Mouhoun (Black Volta), Nakambe (White Volta), Nazinou (Red Volta)

Places to Visit

Bobo-Dioulasso, Koudougou, Ouagadougou, Banfora.

Air Ports

Ouagadougou International Air Port