BURKINA FASO
Is a landlocked country in West Africa around 274,200 square kilometres in size. It is surrounded by: Mali to the north; Niger to the east; Benin to the southeast; Togo and Ghana to the south; and Ivory Coast to the southwest. Its capital is Ouagadougou, their main religions are Islamic and Christianity and the official language is french. In 2014, its population was estimated at just over 17.3 million.
All about Burkina Faso
There is a big history of civil society groups working to
achieve social change in Burkina Faso. These is crucial
as the country starts to rebuild following the removal of
longstanding president Blaise Compaoré from power last
year, according to a former US Ambassador in West Africa.
At the beginnig, Burkina Faso had another name : "Upper Volta",
but when a group of young militar officers took power, started a
revolucionary doctrine and they wanted changes, so they decided to
change the name, which means "the land of proud and honest
people.” The leader was Thomas Sankara, a man who traveled around
the country and motivate the people to create a revolution. This take place in 1983.
In 1987 the Sankara´s vicepresident organized another coup and ousted and assassinated his boss; he said that what Sankara was doing, was affecting the country and making it invisible in west Africa. Campaoré took over, remaining as president for the 27 years until October 31, 2014. Campaoré’s regime was considered “semi-authoritarian” in that he allowed opposition political groupings, but arranged things so that he could not be defeated in regular presidential elections. Potential opposing candidates were intimidated into withdrawing.
Campaoré in his term forgot his own town
and focused on destabilising neighbouring
governments, who made no progress in
economic development. He use the country's
resorces to the externals fights intead of using
in the country.
The people were tired of this situation and in
2005 a new constitution had been adopted
that limited the president to two mandates. When this
time was arriving, the president wanted to change this
new law to continue with the power. On October 31, 2014,
the proposal to change the constitution was officially introduced in the National Assembly and the society was anger, so the people went to the parliament building where the constitutional amendment was being debated and set it on fire. The President managed to escape in a French military helicopter to neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire.
Since october 30, 2014, the country have been involved in transition process by a military government emerged from a coup that was consummated days after of uprisings and revolts. Then the head of state was assumed by Yacouba Zida Isaac but latter it was taken temporarily for Michel Kafando who needs to call elections in less than one year.
Reference
http://www.insightonconflict.org/2015/02/civil-conflict-civil-society-history-political-social-change-burkina-faso/
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e483de6.html
I think Kafando appointed as transitional President of Burkina Faso instead of someone that has a military power (Isaac Zida), is relatively good because is some way they are trying to get to an agrement, so it means an approach to democracy. I think is a good strategy for this country, although they have a semi-presidencial republic.
Another problem why I am concerned is about mali's refugees. UNHCR has been working hard to keep this population safe. The organization aims to ensure that at least 5,000 refugee children are enrolled in quality primary education in 2015. The construction of durable transitional shelters and the distribution of shelter materials and tool kits is a priority to work, for Mali's socierty living in Burkina Faso.
BY: Juliana V. López
I think burkina faso has had different social changes throughout time, with different representatives who in my opinion have failed to guide the people as happens in every nation in the world.
What burkina faso need is a president who knows how to run a village which does not reach the power of erroneous way as they did previously to murder their predecessors or reaching force building a semi-authoritarian dictatorship, has to be a democratically elected president by the people and having new ideas to help people living in Burkina faso such as studying and promoting sports among its people cope.
BY: Luz Adriana Betancourt Granados
Thomas Sankara was a good leader, he wanted to delete the corruption in his country, he wanted changes and avoid the predominance of the French colony tha´s why he changed the name of his country.
What we can expect of a country, which vice president kills the president creating a coup against he?
it is assumed that the people who has the power, must show respect for the other and give example to the comunity, but if it is not like that, the people will think that is ok to kill the neighbor or even a friend just for for jealousy or given invalid justifications.
Burkina Faso is a country which couldn't choose who will rule them after the murder of their president. Compaore was the vicepresident,so he took the power till the point the people get tired and protested. No one could imagine what the actual president did to the last, but as he was justified, there wasn't justice and Burkina Faso was commanding by him.
BY: Sharon Barrios
