BURKINA FASO



Blaise Compaoré
President

Burkina Faso

(pronounced "BLEHZ comp-pah-OAR-eh")

"I don't think it's the financial assistance that accounts for the wealth of a country…it's the capacity of a given country, and its own wealth, that create true prosperity. And there's no doubt that if you read about Burkina or if you come here yourself, this is certainly not the most well-endowed country in the world, whether in natural or mineral resources or whatever else."

The Republic of Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation in West Africa. It borders Mali on the northwest and Niger on the northeast; to the south and southeast are Benin and Togo; to the south and southwest Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Burkina Faso's total area equals 274,200 sq km (or 105,869 sq mi).

The population was estimated at 12.6 million in 2002. Although French is the national language of administration, more than 60 African languages are spoken throughout the country; principal among these are More, Jula, and Fulfulde. Burkina Faso encompasses a large variety of ethnic groups, including the Mossi (40%), Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani. In terms of religious practice, statistics vary widely. Some studies suggest that more than 40% of Burkinabe citizens practice traditional African religions while 50% are Muslims and 10% are Christians (primarily Roman Catholic).

The unit of currency is the Communauté Financière Africaine (CFA) franc. Burkina's principal food crops are peanuts, sesame, millet, sorghum, corn, and rice. Its primary exports include cotton, unworked gold, and animal products. Burkina's major trading partners are France, Venezuela, and Côte d'Ivoire. The per capita gross domestic product (GDP) was approximately US $1,040 in 2001.

ADDRESS

Office of the President
03 B.P. 7030
Ouagadougou 03
Burkina Faso
Web site: http://www.primature.gov.bf

Also read article about Burkina Faso from Wikipedia

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