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Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation of western Africa. Formerly called Upper Volta, it was renamed in 1984 by President Thomas Sankara to mean "the land of upright people" in Mossi and Dyula, the major native languages of the country. Independence from France came in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.
The capital is Ouagadougou, referred to by locals, the Burkinabé, as "Waga."
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| National motto: Unité, Progrès, Justice (French: Unity, Progress, Justice) | |||||
| Official Language | French | ||||
| Capital and Largest City | Ouagadougou | ||||
| President | Blaise Compaoré | ||||
| Prime Minister | Paramanga Ernest Yonli | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 72nd 274,200 km² 0.1% | ||||
| Population | Ranked 64th
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| Independence - Date | From France August 5, 1960 | ||||
| Currency | CFA franc (XOF) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC | ||||
| National anthem | Une Seule Nuit (One Single Night) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .BF | ||||
| Calling Code | 226 | ||||
Burkina Faso was made a colony in the 1890s by France, defeating the native Mossi. It was originally administered as part of Côte d'Ivoire colony, but became a separate colony in 1919, then was later stripped of that status. It was restored again in 1947.
It achieved self-government in 1958, and full independence in 1960. Its first military coup occurred in 1966, then returned to civilian rule in 1978. There was another coup, led by Saye Zerbo in 1980, which in turn was overthrown in 1982. A counter-coup was launched in 1983, which left Captain Thomas Sankara in charge.
Main article: Politics of Burkina Faso
Main article: Administrative divisions of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is divided into 45 provinces: Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Main article: Geography of Burkina Faso
Main article: Economy of Burkina Faso
Main article: Demographics of Burkina Faso
Main article: List of writers from Burkina Faso
Main article: Education in Burkina Faso
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