Africa/Western Africa
Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou
24.1 Mio
272 967 km²
West African CFA franc
Landlocked
French
Historical Events
1896 - Colonization by France
Burkina Faso was colonized by France as part of French West Africa.
1958 - Self-Government
Upper Volta became a self-governing colony within the French Community.
1960 - Independence
Burkina Faso gained full independence with Maurice Yaméogo as its first president.
1966 - First Coup
The first coup in Burkina Faso's history occurred, leading to political instability.
1984 - Name Change
The Republic of Upper Volta was renamed Burkina Faso by President Thomas Sankara.
1987 - Assassination of Sankara
Thomas Sankara was overthrown and assassinated in a coup led by Blaise Compaoré.
2022 - Coup d'État
Burkina Faso experienced a coup in January, followed by another in September.
2024 - Exit from ECOWAS and African Union
Burkina Faso announced its exit from ECOWAS and the African Union after forming the Alliance of Sahel States.