The 2004 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

4.2% (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       300,000 (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       29,000 (2003 est.)

      Major infectious diseases:

       typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis

       overall degree of risk: very high (2004)

      Nationality:

       noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)

       adjective: Burkinabe

      Ethnic groups:

       Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani

      Religions:

       indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman

       Catholic) 10%

      Languages:

       French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic

       family spoken by 90% of the population

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write

       total population: 26.6%

       male: 36.9%

       female: 16.6% (2003 est.)

      Government Burkina Faso

      Country name:

       conventional long form: none

       conventional short form: Burkina Faso

       former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

      Government type:

       parliamentary republic

      Capital:

       Ouagadougou

      Administrative divisions:

       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

      Independence:

       5 August 1960 (from France)

      National holiday:

       Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

      Constitution:

       2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted;

       ammended April 2000

      Legal system:

       based on French civil law system and customary law

      Suffrage:

       universal

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

       head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6

       November 2000)

       cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the

       recommendation of the prime minister

       elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;

       election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); in

       April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidential

       term from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005, and allowing

       the president to be reelected only once; it is unclear whether this

       amendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime minister

       appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature

       election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5%

       percent of the vote

      Legislative branch:

       unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;

       members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

       elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to

       be held NA May 2007)

       election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -

       CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17

      Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court; Appeals Court

      Political parties and leaders:

       African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or

       RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy

       or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress

       or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and

       Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African

       Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and

       Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for the

       Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]

      Political pressure groups and leaders:

       Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe

       Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; National

       Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of

       Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the

       country in both organizations and communities

      International organization participation:

       ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,

       ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,

       Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN,

       UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,

       WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

      Diplomatic representation in the US:

       chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO

       FAX: [1] (202) 667–1882

       telephone: [1] (202) 332–5577

       chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

      Diplomatic representation from the US:

       chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMES

       embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4

       mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S.

       Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC

       20521–2440

       telephone: [226] 306723

       FAX: [226] 303890

      Flag description:

       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

      Economy Burkina Faso

      Economy - overview:

       One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina