Burkina Faso
Background:
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) is a landlocked country located in the middle of West Africa's "hump." It is geographically in the Sahel--the agricultural region between the Sahara Desert and the coastal rain forests.
Burkina Faso achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 19
70s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries
People: Nationality: Burkinabe (accent on last e). Population: 12 million. Ethnic groups: 63 ethnic groups among which are Mossi (almost half of the total population), Bobo, Mande, Lobi, Fulani, Gourounsi, and Sénoufo. Religions: Muslim 55%, Christian 25%, Traditional beliefs 20%. Languages: French, Mooré, Dioula, Fulfuldé, others. Literacy: 30% Natural resources: Manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt Diplomatic Missions Embassy of Burkina Faso to the US Official website of the embassy, located at Washington D. C. Ambassade du Burkina Faso en Belgique Burkina's embassy at Belgium, provides country and travel information. Agriculture products: Cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock Industries: Cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold. Exports partners: China 31.9%, Singapore 11.5%, Ghana 4.7%, Bangladesh 4.3% (2004) Imports partners: France 29.3%, Cote d''Ivoire 16%, Togo 9.8% (2004) Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF) border countries: Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Togo related countries: France
Official Name:
Burkina Faso
short form: Burkina
formerly Upper Volta
ISO Country Code: bf
Time:
Local Time = UTC (+-0; no UTC/GMT offset)
Actual Time: Mon-Oct-25 20:32
Country Calling Code: +226
Capital City: Ouagadougou (pop.1 million)
Other Cities: Bobo-Dioulasso (450,000), Koudougou
(90,000), Banfora, Dori, Fada N'Gourma, Ouahigouy
Government: Type: Parliamentary Republic
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France).
Constitution: 11 June 1991 formally adopted;
amended April 2000
Geography:
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana.
Area: 274 200 sq. km. (106 000 sq. mi.).
Terrain: Savanna; brushy plains and scattered hills.
Climate: Sahelian; pronounced wet and dry seasons