Burkina Faso Government

Map showing the location of Burkina Faso

The political system of Burkina Faso can be described as a semi-presidential republic. The Prime Minister is the head of a government in a multi-party system, and the President is considered the head of state. Executive power can be exercised by the President as well as the Prime Minister's government. Legislation and legislative power are controlled by the government and parliament of Burkina Faso. The country has experienced attempted or successful coup d'etat in 1966, 1980,1982, 1987,1989, 2014, and 2015 which gives a sense of how volatile the political landscape can become in Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso elects their parliamentary representatives and president every five years. Both positions serve five-year terms, and the next national election will take place sometime in 2020. The country is divided into 45 electoral provinces within the 13 regions, each area elects two to nine representatives (depending on size), and these elected individuals are part of a political party. 111 members in the National Assembly are chosen through proportional representation and 16 members of the National Assembly who are nationally elected.

The parliament of the country is known as the National Assembly of Burkina Faso and is located in the capital city of Ouagadougou, located in the Centre Region. This parliament is home to 127 elected members of the government. During the 2014 Burkinabe Uprising, protesters made their way into the National Assembly and set fire to it.

Burkina Faso is home to a long list of political parties. Some of these include the African Independence Party and the Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Ouagadougou
Languages	French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population
Ethnic Groups	Mossi 52.5%, Fulani 8.4%, Gurma 6.8%, Bobo 4.8%, Gurunsi 4.5%, Senufo 4.4%, Bissa 3.9%, Lobi 2.5%, Dagara 2.4%, Tuareg/Bella 1.9%, Dioula 0.8%, unspecified/no answer 0.1%, other 7% (2010 est.)
Religion	Muslim 61.6%, Catholic 23.2%, traditional/animist 7.3%, Protestant 6.7%, other/no answer 0.2%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	5 August 1960 (from France)
Area	274,200.00 km²
Water Area	400.00 km²
Land Area	273,800.00 km²
Population	19,512,533.00
Location	Western Africa, north of Ghana
No. Bordering Countries	6
Bordering Countries	Benin 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 545 km, Ghana 602 km, Mali 1,325 km, Niger 622 km, Togo 131 km
GDP(PPP)	$32,990,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$1,800.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partner is Switzerland.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are gold, cotton, and livestock.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Cote d'Ivoire and France.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include capital goods, foodstuffs, and petroleum.
Climate	Tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain	Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast
Learn More	Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso Government

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