Ouagadougou, also Vagaga, is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural, and economic centre of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 2,200,000 in 2015. The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais. The spelling of the name Ouagadougou is derived from the French orthography common in former French African colonies.
Blaise Compaoré is a Burkinabé politician who was president of Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014. He was a top associate of President Thomas Sankara during the 1980s, and in October 1987, he led a coup d'état during which Sankara was killed. Subsequently, he introduced a policy of "rectification", overturning the leftist and Third Worldist policies pursued by Sankara. He won elections in 1991, 1998, 2005, and 2010 in what were considered unfair circumstances. His attempt to amend the constitution to extend his 27-year term caused the 2014 Burkinabé uprising. On 31 October 2014, Compaoré resigned, whereupon he fled to the Ivory Coast.
The regions of Burkina Faso are divided into 45 administrative provinces. These 45 provinces are currently sub-divided into 351 departments or communes.
The Burkina Faso national football team, is the national team of Burkina Faso and is controlled by the Burkinabé Football Federation. They were known as the Upper Volta national football team until 1984, when Upper Volta became Burkina Faso. They finished fourth in the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations, when they hosted the tournament. Their best ever finish in the tournament was the 2013 edition, reaching the final.
Education in Burkina Faso is structured in much the same way as in the rest of the world: primary, secondary, and higher education. As of 2008, despite efforts to improve education, the country had the lowest adult literacy rate in the world (25.3%).
Balé is one of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso, located in its Boucle du Mouhoun Region with Boromo as capital. Its area is 4,595 km2 (1,774 sq mi), and in 2006 had a population of 213,897. The province is known for its Deux Balé Forest, populated by savannah elephant herds. Boromo, the provincial capital, is located on the main road from Ouagadougou to Bobo-Dioulasso. In June 2007, the Canadian mining company, Semafo, open the third gold mine in the country in Mana in the province, with an investment of about $116 million.
The culture of Burkina Faso in West Africa is also called the Burkinabé culture.
Bam is one of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso. It is in Centre-Nord Region and the capital of Bam is Kongoussi. In 2006 it had a population of 277092. It is a rural province with 252,509 of its residents living in the countryside; only 24,583 live in urban areas. There are 132,086 men living in Bam Province and 145,006 women.
Sissili is one of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso, located in its Centre-Ouest Region. In 2006 the population was 212,628 and in 2011 the population was 240,830, an increase of 13.3%.
Centre-Sud is one of Burkina Faso's 13 administrative regions. The population of Centre-Sud was 638,379 in 2006 and was estimated at 722,631 in 2011. The region's capital is Manga. Three provinces-Bazèga, Nahouri, and Zoundwéogo, make up the region.
The Fédération Burkinabé du Scoutisme, the national federation of two Scouting organizations in Burkina Faso, was founded in 1943, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1972 under the name of Upper Volta. The coeducational Fédération Burkinabé du Scoutisme has 9,398 members as of 2011.
Sibiri Alain Traoré is a Burkinabé footballer who plays as a striker for Nahdat Berkane, and the Burkina Faso national team. He started his career with local side Planète Champion, before moving to France as a 17-year-old.
Burkina Faso is a religiously diverse society, with Islam being the dominant religion. According to a recent census (2019) conducted by the Government of Burkina Faso, 89% of the population adheres to Islam. The vast majority of Muslims in Burkina Faso are Malikite Sunni, deeply influenced by Sufism. The Shi'a branch of Islam also has a small presence in the country. A significant number of Sunni Muslims identify with the Tijaniyah Sufi order. The Government also estimated that 8.3% practices Christianity, 2.7% follow Animism i.e., African traditional religion, 0.6% have other religions, and 0.4% have none.
Prostitution in Burkina Faso is not specifically prohibited by the law, but soliciting and pimping are illegal. Burkinabe society only accepts sexual intercourse within marriage. In 2009, Voice of America reported that the number of prostitutes in Burkina Faso had increased as a result of the country's poverty. The increase in prostitution has given rise to fears of an increase in the number of Burkinabés infected with HIV and AIDS. UNAIDS estimate there to be 31,000 prostitutes in the country.
Burkina Faso–Denmark relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Burkina Faso and Denmark. Burkina Faso has an embassy in Copenhagen, and Denmark has an embassy in Ouagadougou.
The 2011 Burkinabé protests were a series of popular protests in Burkina Faso.
Bertrand Isidore Traoré is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Lyon and the Burkina Faso national team.
Burkina Faso competed at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Spain from 19 July to 4 August 2013.
The 1987 Burkinabé coup d'état was a bloody military coup in Burkina Faso, which took place on 15 October 1987. The coup was organized by Captain Blaise Compaoré against incumbent far-left President Captain Thomas Sankara, his former friend and associate during the 1983 upheaval.
