From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Formerly called Upper Volta, Burkina Faso was renamed in 1984 by President Thomas Sankara to mean "the land of upright people" in Mossi and Dyula, the major native languages of the country. It is a landlocked nation of western Africa. 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.
The capital is Ouagadougou, referred to by locals, the Burkinabé, as "Waga".
| |||||
| National motto: Unité, Progrés, Justice (French: Unity, Progress, Justice) | |||||
 | |||||
| Official Language | French | ||||
| Capital and Largest City | Ouagadougou | ||||
| President | Blaise Compaore | ||||
| Prime Minister | Ernest Paramanga Yonli | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 72nd 274,200 km² 0.1% | ||||
| Population
- Total (2003) - Density | Ranked 64th
13,228,460 46/km² | ||||
| Independence - Date | From France August 5, 1960 | ||||
| Currency | CFA franc (XOF) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC | ||||
| National anthem | Une Seule Nuit (One Single Night) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .BF | ||||
| Calling Code | 226 | ||||
Botswana is divided into 45 provinces:
Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo
History
Main article: History of Burkina FasoPolitics
Main article: Politics of Burkina FasoDistricts
Main article: Administrative divisions of Burkina FasoGeography
Main article: Geography of Burkina FasoEconomy
Main article: Economy of Burkina Faso
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | - | ||
| January 3 | Anniversary of the 1966 coup d’état | - | - | |
| March 8 | Women’s Day | - | - | |
| April 12 | Easter Monday | - | - | |
| May 1 | Labor Day | - | - | |
| May 20 | Ascension | - | - | |
| August 4 | Revolution Day | - | - | |
| August 5 | Independence Day | - | - | |
| August 15 | Assumption | - | - | |
| October 15 | Anniversary of the 1987 coup d’état | - | - | |
| November 1 | All Saints Day | - | - | |
| December 11 | Proclamation of the Republic | - | - | |
| December 25 | Christmas | - | - | |
| Date Varies | Eid ul-Fitr | Aid el Sagheer | Celebrates end of Ramadan | |
| Date Varies | Eid ul-Adha | Aid el Kebir | Feast of Sacrifice |
Education
Main article: Education in Burkina FasoMiscellaneous topics
External links
