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Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in the middle of West Africa's "hump."Â It is geographically in the Sahel - the agricultural region between the Sahara Desert and the coastal rainforests.
Ethnic Diversity
Burkina Faso's 13.9 million people belong to two major West African cultural groups - the Voltaic and the Mande (whose common language is Dioula). The Voltaic Mossi make up about one-half of the population. The Mossi claim descent from warriors who migrated to present-day Burkina Faso from Ghana and established an empire that lasted more than 800 years. Predominantly farmers, the Mossi kingdom is still led by the Mogho Naba, whose court is in Ouagadougou.
Burkina Faso is an ethnically integrated, secular state. Most of Burkina's people are concentrated in the south and center of the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometer. This population density, high for Africa, causes migrations of hundreds of thousands of Burkinabe to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, many for seasonal agricultural work. These flows of workers are obviously affected by external events; the September 2002 coup attempt in Cote d'Ivoire and the ensuing fighting there have meant that hundreds of thousands of Burkinabe returned to Burkina Faso. A plurality of Burkinabe are Muslim, but most also adhere to traditional African religions. Christians, both Roman Catholics and Protestants, comprise about 25% of the population, with the largest concentration in urban areas.
Politics
(from Wikipedia)
Burkina Faso achieved independence from Franch on August 5, 1960. Although the constitution provided for presidential and national assembly election by universal suffrage for 5-year terms, the first president, Maurice Yameogo, soon banned all political parties other than his own Voltaic Democratic Union (UDV). The government lasted until 1966 when, after much unrest including mass demonstrations and strikes by students, labor unions, and civil servants, the military intervened by deposing Yameogo, suspending the constitution, dissolving the National Assembly, and placing Lt. Col. Sangoule Lamizana at the head of a government composed of senior army officers. The army remained in power for 4 years, and on June 14, 1970, a new constitution was ratified which established a 4-year transition period towards complete civilian rule. Lamizana remained in power throughout the 1970s as president of military or mixed civil-military governments. In 1977 a new constitution was written and approved, and Lamizana was re-elected by open elections in 1978.
Lamizana's government faced problems with the country's traditionally powerful trade unions, and on November 25, 1980, Col. Saye Zerbo overthrew Lamizana in a bloodless coup. Colonel Zerbo established the Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress as the supreme governmental authority, thus eradicating the 1977 constitution. Colonel Zerbo also encountered resistance from trade unions and was overthrown two years later, in 1982, by Maj. Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo and the Council of Popular Salvation (CSP). The CSPÂ continued to ban political parties and organizations while promising a transition to civilian rule and a new constitution. Factional infighting developed between moderates in the CSPÂ and the radicals, led by Capt. Thomas Sankara, who was appointed prime minister in January 1983. The internal political struggle and Sankara's leftist rhetoric eventually led to yet another military coup on August 4, 1983. After the coup, Sankara formed the National Council for the Revolution (CNR)Â with himself as president. Sankara also established Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs)Â to "mobilize the masses"Â and implement the CNR's revolutionary programs. Sankara sought to mobilize the masses and launch a massive development movement under Marxist principles.
Many of the strict austerity measures taken by Sankara met with growing resistance and disagreement. Despite his initial popularity and personal charisma, problems began to surface. The CDRs, which were formed as popular mass organizations, deteriorated in some areas into gangs of armed thugs and clashed with several trade unions. Tensions over the repressive tactics of the government and its overall direction mounted steadily. On October 15, 1987, Sankara was assassinated in a coup which brought Capt. Blaise Compaore to power.
After two years of military rule, Compaore adopted the 1991 Constitution and was re-elected as a constitutional president (he was the only candidate). Many people saw this as an opportunity for change and progress in development and rule of law in the country. However, repressive methods such as political intimidation, assassinations, and mass repression have continued in a bid to consolidate power.
Part Two - Transitional Justice in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso Country Presentation (CDD/CIÂ Workshop February 2008)
Inquiry into the death of Norbert Zongo (Reporters Without Borders, December 1998)
State Department Human Rights Report 2007 - Burkina Faso