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Sub Saharan Africa

Burkina Faso

 Flag of Burkina Faso

Last reviewed: 25 February 2009

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HISTORY

Burkina Faso, originally known as Upper Volta until its name change in 1983, was a French colony, part of French West Africa. It gained its independence from France in August 1960. The post-independence civilian government was authoritarian, and opposition parties were banned. This eventually led to the country's first military coup in 1966. For the following 24 years, there was a succession of military regimes, mostly conservative, but including the shortlived revolutionary regime of Captain Thomas Sankara (August 1983 – October 1987). Assassinated in October 1987, Sankara was succeeded by a fellow junior officer, Captain Blaise Compaore. His takeover was widely condemned at home and abroad.

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Contacts

Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, British Honorary Consulate

Address:

Mr Patrick de La lande
Honorary Consulate of UK in Burkina Faso
01 BP 6490 Ouagadougou 01 BURKINA FASO

Based at ICI, Initiatives Conseil International
Impasse Thévenoud, 330
Secteur 01 of Ouagadougou

Telephone:

(226) 50 30 88 60

Fax:

(226) 50 31 25 43

Email: consulat-uk@fasonet.bf

Office hours:

 

Burkina Faso