History of Burkina Faso

Kénédougou Kingdom, 1650–1898 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Kénédougou Kingdom was a pre-colonial West African state established in the southeastern portion of present-day Mali, as well as parts of northern Côte d'Ivoire and western Burkina Faso. Kénédougou was first established in the 17th century by the Dioula Traore clan. In the 18th century, Kénédougou was a far-flung extension of the Kong Empire. By 1825, Kong power had declined in the region and the kingdom, under the rule of Doaula Ba Traoré, was able to establish independence.

Seat of power: Bougoula

French Upper Volta, 1919–1958 Draft, not yet reviewed

Upper Volta was a colony of French West Africa established in 1919 in the territory occupied by present-day Burkina Faso. It was formed from territories that had been part of the colonies of Upper Senegal and Niger and the Côte d'Ivoire. The colony was dissolved on 5 September 1932, with parts being administered by the Côte d'Ivoire, French Sudan and the Colony of Niger. After World War II, on 4 September 1947, the colony was revived as a part of the French Union, with its previous boundaries.

Seat of power: Ouagadougou

Republic of Upper Volta, 1958–1984 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Republic of Upper Volta was a landlocked West African country established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing state within the French Community. On 5 August 1960, it gained full independence from France. Although multiparty democracy was nominally restored four years later, Lamizana dominated the country's politics until he was himself overthrown in 1980. After a series of short-term presidencies, Thomas Sankara came to power through yet another military coup d'état on 4 August 1983.

Seat of power: Ouagadougou

Rulers

• Maurice Yaméogo, President of Upper Volta, 1960–1966

Burkina Faso, 1984 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa. Formerly the Republic of Upper Volta, the country was renamed Burkina Faso on 4 August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara. There have been various coups d'état, in 1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, and twice in 2022, in January and September. Since 2025, Burkina Faso has formalised its exit from ECOWAS and La Francophonie, after it helped form the Alliance of Sahel States.

Seat of power: Ouagadougou

Rulers

• Thomas Sankara, President of Burkina Faso, 1983–1987
• Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso, 1987–2014
• Michel Kafando, President of Burkina Faso, 2014–2015
• Honoré Traoré, President of Burkina Faso, 2014–2014
• Yacouba Isaac Zida, President of Burkina Faso, 2014–2014
• Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso, 2015–2022
• Chérif Sy, President of Burkina Faso, 2015–2015
• Gilbert Diendéré, President of Burkina Faso, 2015–2015
• Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso, 2022 to today
• Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, President of Burkina Faso, 2022–2022