Government and Politics of Burkina Faso

Government Type

parliamentary republic

Administrative Divisions

45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo

Legal System

based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage

universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Burkina Faso dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: Transitional President Captain Ibrahim TRAORE (since 2 October 2022), following a military coup; TRAORE leads the Alliance for Salvation and Restoration (MPSR2) junta that seized power from transitional leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA, who had himself taken power in a January 2022 coup ousting elected President Roch Marc Christian KABORE head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Baptiste OUEDRAOGO (since January 2023), appointed by Captain TRAORE to oversee civilian governance functions under the military-led transitional government cabinet: Transitional Council serves in an advisory and legislative capacity; a Council of Ministers is appointed by the transitional president elections: Prior to the military coups of 2022, the president was elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the constitution allowed for one presidential re-election; democratic elections have been suspended under the current transitional military government, with a return to civilian rule tentatively targeted for mid-2024, though the timeline has faced repeated delays election results: The last democratic presidential election was held in November 2020, in which Roch Marc Christian KABORE was reelected with approximately 57.9% of the popular vote; KABORE was subsequently deposed in a military coup in January 2022

Legislative Branch

Burkina Faso's legislature was unicameral, consisting of a National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 127 seats, whose members were elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. However, following the military coup of September 2022, the National Assembly was dissolved by the junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR). Legislative authority was subsequently suspended and transferred to a transitional body, the Alliance for Peace and Refoundation, pending an eventual return to civilian rule. Prior to the coup, the last legislative elections were held on November 22, 2020, in which the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) and other parties competed, with President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré's People's Movement for Progress (MPP) winning a majority of seats. The transitional government has not established a firm timeline for restoring democratic elections, and the country remains under military governance as of the most recent reporting period.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Political Parties

African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]

Head of State

Transitional President Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, following a military coup

Head of Government

Prime Minister Jean-Baptiste OUEDRAOGO (since January 2023), appointed by Captain TRAORE to oversee civilian governance functions under the military-led transitional government

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

Election Results

Burkina Faso held its most recent multiparty presidential and legislative elections in November 2020, marking what would prove to be the final democratic elections before a series of military interventions reshaped the country's political landscape. In the presidential race, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of the Mouvement du Peuple pour le Progrès (MPP) secured a second term, winning approximately 57.87 percent of the vote in the first round, avoiding a runoff entirely. His closest challenger, Eddie Komboïgo of the Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès (CDP), received around 15.48 percent, while Zéphirin Diabré of the Union pour le Progrès et le Changement (UPC) garnered roughly 12.46 percent. Voter turnout was approximately 51.41 percent, a figure tempered by ongoing security challenges from jihadist insurgencies that prevented many citizens in conflict-affected regions from reaching polling stations. In the concurrent legislative elections, the MPP won 56 seats in the 127-seat National Assembly, while the CDP secured 20 seats and the UPC took 12 seats, with the remainder distributed among smaller parties and independents. Kaboré's second term proved short-lived. On January 24, 2022, military officers led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba ousted Kaboré in a coup, citing the government's failure to contain the escalating Islamist insurgency. The constitution was suspended, the National Assembly dissolved, and the country was placed under military rule. Just months later, on September 30, 2022, Damiba himself was overthrown in a second coup by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who assumed leadership as head of state. As of the mid-2020s, Burkina Faso remains governed by a transitional military administration with no firm timeline publicly confirmed for a return to constitutional order, though transitional authorities have indicated intentions to organize a return to civilian-led elections. The country's political status has drawn significant international attention and criticism, particularly from regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Constitution

2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted; ammended April 2000

Independence

5 August 1960 (from France)

National Holiday

Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cynthia AKUETTEH embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4 mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S. Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440 telephone: [226] 306723 FAX: [226] 303890

Capital City

Ouagadougou

Location

12 22 N, 1 31 W

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of the native name "Wogodogo," meaning "where people get honor and respect"

U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Telephone: 226 50 49 53 00 Facsimile: 226 50 49 56 23

Military Branches

Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso, FABF), National Gendarmerie

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may serve in supporting roles