The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

both sides agreed to accept;

       Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the

       tripoint with Niger

       Climate:

       tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

       Terrain:

       mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

       Natural resources:

       manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper,

       nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver

       Land use:

       arable land 10%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 37%; forest and

       woodland 26%; other 27%, includes irrigated NEGL%

       Environment:

       recent droughts and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural

       activities, population distribution, economy; overgrazing; deforestation

       Note:

       landlocked

      :Burkina People

      Population:

       9,653,672 (July 1992), growth rate 3.1% (1992)

       Birth rate:

       49 births/1,000 population (1992)

       Death rate:

       16 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

       Net migration rate:

       —2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

       Infant mortality rate:

       117 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

       Life expectancy at birth:

       52 years male, 53 years female (1992)

       Total fertility rate:

       7.1 children born/woman (1992)

       Nationality:

       noun - Burkinabe (singular and plural); adjective - Burkinabe

       Ethnic divisions:

       more than 50 tribes; principal tribe is Mossi (about 2.5 million); other

       important groups are Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani

       Religions:

       indigenous beliefs about 65%, Muslim 25%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic)

       10%

       Languages:

       French (official); tribal languages belong to Sudanic family, spoken by 90%

       of the population

       Literacy:

       18% (male 28%, female 9%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

       Labor force:

       3,300,000 residents; 30,000 are wage earners; agriculture 82%, industry 13%,

       commerce, services, and government 5%; 20% of male labor force migrates

       annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1984); 44% of

       population of working age (1985)

       Organized labor:

       four principal trade union groups represent less than 1% of population

      :Burkina Government

      Long-form name:

       Burkina Faso

       Type:

       military; established by coup on 4 August 1983

       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; formerly Upper Volta)

       Constitution:

       June 1991

       Legal system:

       based on French civil law system and customary law

       National holiday:

       Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)

       Executive branch:

       President, Council of Ministers

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) was dissolved on 25

       November 1980

       Judicial branch:

       Appeals Court

       Leaders:

       Chief of State and Head of Government:

       President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

       Political parties and leaders:

       Organization for Popular Democracy (ODP/MT), ruling party; Coordination of

       Democratic Forces (CFD), composed of opposition parties

       Suffrage:

       none

       Elections:

       the National Assembly was dissolved 25 November 1980; presidential election

       held December 1991 and legislative election scheduled for 24 May 1992

       Communists:

       small Communist party front group; some sympathizers

       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:

       Ambassador Paul Desire KABORE; Chancery at 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW,

       Washington, DC 20008; telephone [phone] or 6895

       US:

       Ambassador Edward P. BYRNN; Embassy at Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou

       (mailing address is 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou); telephone [226] 30-67- 23

       through 25 and [226] 33-34-22; 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.

       GDP:

       exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, per capita $320 (1988); real growth