Key Facts about Burkina Faso

About Burkina Faso

• It is a landlocked country in western Africa.
• As it straddles the Prime Meridian, it has territories in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
• Borders: It shares its borders with six other nations: Mali to the north and west, Niger to the east, and Benin to the southeast, while to the south it touches Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
• Capital: Ouagadougou
• Geography:
  • It is predominantly characterized by savannahs, plateaus, and low mountains in the southwest.
  • The northern region, known as the Sahel, is arid and desert-like.
• History: Burkina Faso, previously known as Upper Volta, was once part of French West Africa since 1896. It gained independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. 
• Languages:
  • The official language of Burkina Faso is French, which is used in government and education.
  • There are many indigenous languages spoken throughout the country, with Moore (Mossi) being one of the most widely spoken.
• Economy: The economy is largely based on agriculture, which employs over 80% of the workforce. It is one of the world’s poorest countries.
• Government: It is a republic with a presidential system of government. It has experienced political transitions and changes in leadership over the years.
• Terrorist groups, including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State - began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
• By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity.

Q1) What is savannah?

It is a vegetation type that grows under hot, seasonally dry climatic conditions and is characterized by an open tree canopy (i.e., scattered trees) above a continuous tall grass understory (the vegetation layer between the forest canopy and the ground). The largest areas of savanna are found in Africa, South America, Australia, India, the Myanmar (Burma)–Thailand region in Asia, and Madagascar.

Source: 170 People "Executed' In Attacks On 3 Villages In Burkina Faso: Report