conventional short form:
Burkina
former:
Upper Volta
Digraph:
UV
Type:
parliamentary
Capital:
Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions:
30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde,
Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi,
Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore,
Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa,
Yatenga, Zoundweogo
Independence:
5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
Constitution:
2 June 1991
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987); election
last held December 1991
head of government:
Prime Minister Roch KABORE (since March 1994)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Assembly of People's Deputies:
elections last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held NA); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (107 total), ODP-MT 78, CNPP-PSD
12, RDA 6, ADF 4, other 7
note:
the current law also provides for a second consultative chamber, which
had not been formally constituted as of 1 July 1992
Judicial branch:
Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
Organization for People's Democracy- Labor Movement (ODP-MT), ruling
party, Simon COMPAORE, Secretary General; National Convention of
Progressive Patriots-Social Democratic Party (CNPP-PSD), Moussa BOLY;
African Democratic Rally (RDA), Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO; Alliance for
Democracy and Federation (ADF), Amadou Michel NANA
Other political or pressure groups:
committees for the defense of the revolution; watchdog/political
action groups throughout the country in both organizations and
communities
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas Yara KAMBOU
chancery:
2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 332–5577 or 6895
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Donald J. McCONNELL
embassy:
Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
mailing address:
01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou
telephone:
[226] 30–67- 23 through 25
FAX:
[226] 31–23-68
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow
five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors
of Ethiopia
@Burkina, Economy
Overview:
One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina has a high
population density, few natural resources, and relatively infertile
soil. Economic development is hindered by a poor communications
network within a landlocked country. Agriculture provides about 40% of
GDP and is entirely of a subsistence nature. Industry, dominated by
unprofitable government-controlled corporations, accounts for about
15% of GDP.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
0.7% (1992)
National product per capita:
$700 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
−0.8% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$483 million
expenditures:
$548 million, including capital expenditures of $189 million (1992)
Exports:
$300 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
cotton, gold, animal products
partners:
EC 42%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, Taiwan 15%
Imports:
$685 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
machinery, food products, petroleum
partners:
EC 49%, Africa 24%, Japan 6%
External debt:
$865 million (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.7% (1992); accounts for about 15% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
120,000 kW
production:
320 million kWh
consumption per capita:
40 kWh (1991)
Industries:
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,
textiles, gold mining and extraction
Agriculture:
accounts for about 40% of GDP; cash crops - peanuts, shea nuts,
sesame, cotton; food crops - sorghum, millet,