Burkina Faso Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

West Africa.

Language

The official language is French. Several other languages such as Mossi, Mooré, Dioula, Peul, Fulfuldé and Gourmantché are also spoken.

Area

274,200 sq km (105,870 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard.

Population

12.8 million (UN estimate 2006).

Population Density

48 per sq km.

Capital City

Ouagadougou. Population: 962,100 (2005).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Changed its name from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso (’Land of Honest Men’) in 1984.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Paramanga Ernest Yonli since 2000.

Head of State

President Blaise Compaoré since 1987.

Religion

More than 40% follow animist beliefs; 50% are Muslim and 10% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic).

Recent History

Elections in 1998 and 2000 returned Blaise Compaoré and his party with substantial majorities but their integrity was undermined by opposition boycotts amid allegations of fraud of malpractice. By contrast, the 2002 national assembly poll was a relatively transparent affair; the Compaoré political vehicle, now named the Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès, won a narrow victory after its representation was cut in half from its previous level. In 2005, despite an amendment to the constitution in 2000 limiting each head of state to two terms of office, the Constitutional Court allowed Compaoré to run in the November presidential elections. He was re-elected with a significant majority, though the opposition feared the vote would be rigged and there was criticism of the amount of money he spent on the campaign.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +226.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is available in the five main towns. Handsets can be hired (against a large deposit).

Internet

Available in some hotels and Internet cafes. There are Internet cafes in Ouagadougou and one in Bobo Dioulasso. Power cuts can hamper Internet use.

Media

The Ministry of Communication and Culture regulates the media. Despite practising self-censorship many media outlets, particularly private ones, are often critical of the government. Some journalists are reported to have been threatened or arrested. There are about a dozen private radio stations, a private television channel and many private publications.

Post

There are few post offices, but stamps can often be bought at hotels. There is no local delivery, and all other mail must be addressed to a box number. Airmail to Europe takes up to two weeks.Mon-Fri 0730-1230 and 1500-1730. The main post office in the capital is open Mon-Sat 0830-1200 and 1500-1830.

Press

• The main daily newspapers are L'Observateur Paalga, Le Pays and Sidwaya Quotidien.

Radio

•Radio Burkina is state run.
• Pulsar Radio and Radio Horizon FM are private stations.
• The BBC World Service, Voice of America and Radio France Internationale are available via local relays in Ouagadougou.

Public Holidays

Below are the listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
11 Dec Proclamation of the Republic
25 Dec Christmas

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
3 Jan Anniversary of the 1966 Coup d’État
15 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
8 Mar Women’s Day
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
2 Jun Ascension
4 Aug Revolution Day
5 Aug Independence Day
15 Aug Assumption
29 Aug Aid El Segheir (End of Ramadan)
15 Oct Anniversary of the 1987 Coup d’État
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
6 Nov - 7 Nov Aid El Kébir (Feast of the Sacrifice)
26 Nov El am Hejir (New Year)
11 Dec Proclamation of the Republic
25 Dec Christmas

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
3 Jan Anniversary of the 1966 Coup d’État
4 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
8 Mar Women’s Day
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
17 May Ascension
4 Aug Revolution Day
5 Aug Independence Day
15 Aug Assumption
19 Aug Aid El Segheir (End of Ramadan)
15 Oct Anniversary of the 1987 Coup d’État
25 Oct Aid El Kébir (Feast of the Sacrifice)
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
15 Nov El am Hejir (New Year)
11 Dec Proclamation of the Republic
25 Dec Christmas
* Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Aid El Segheir, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night, and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Aid El Segheir itself. Aid El Segheir and Aid El Kébir may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information

Direction du Tourisme et de l'Hôtellerie

BP 624, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso
Tel: (226) 306 396.

Honorary Consulate of Burkina Faso in the UK

The Lilacs, Stane Street, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey RH5 5LU, UK
Tel: (01306) 627 225.

Embassy of Burkina Faso in the USA

2340 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 332 5577.
Website: www.burkinaembassy-usa.org

Ambassade du Burkina Faso in Belgium

16 Place Guy d’Arezzo, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (02) 345 9912.
Website: www.ambassadeduburkina.be