Burkina Faso, previously known as Upper Volta, is a developing West African country which borders the Sahara Desert. The official language is French. Facilities for tourism are not widely available.

Geography
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is bordered by Benin, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, and Togo. The northern provinces lie in the Sahel, the belt of semi-arid land with low rainfall that fringes the Sahara desert. Here communities are frequently affected by cycles of drought and food shortage. During the dry season, permanent water sources are vital.

Close to Burkina Faso's northern-most border there is a remarkable freshwater lake, the Mare d'Oursi, which is fringed by sand dunes. The lake is a magnet not only to local farmers, herders and livestock, but also to the many species of bird which migrate across the Sahara twice a year, breeding in Europe and spending winters in Africa. Many species of wading birds feed here on their journey, and sand martins and swallows can be seen passing through during their autumn migration.

Further South the rainfall is heavier, supporting the small-scale farming that provides a livelihood for most of the population. Several national parks preserve the wooded grassland (or savannah) that once covered most of the country. The Pô and Nazinga reserves, and the Parc d'Arli and Parc du W (yes, it really is spelt like that!) provide a refuge for antelope, baboon, buffalo, elephant, hippopotamus, hyena, leopard, lion, and warthog, as well as a wide variety of birds.

Most of Burkina Faso is very flat, but in the southwest there are rolling hills, tumbling waterfalls and dense woodlands. The country's second city and former capital, Bobo-Dioulasso, is perched on top of the spectacular rocky cliff of the Falaise de Banfora. This is the wettest part of the country, supporting rice fields and vast plantations of cashew nuts and sugar cane.

The rainy season in Burkina Faso usually begins in June and ends by October. The country is located between 9º and 15º north of the equator, and is warm throughout the year. In the hottest months, from March to May, temperatures rise to over 40º C. People say that in the North, around Gorom Gorom, the sun is hot enough to cook an egg.

Most people in Burkina Faso are farmers who grow cash crops (peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton), and food crops (sorghum, millet, maize, rice and vegetables). Industries include cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, and gold mining. The countries natural resources include manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, and silver.

History
The history of the region before the arrival of the French in 1897 is dominated by the Mossi people, who established the Mossi Empire in the basin of the Volta Rivers in 1500 and dominated the region through the use of the horse as a weapon of war. Because of their military strength, the Mossi played an important role in the western Sudan area of West Africa in the period up to the end of the 19th century. They maintained an area free of conflict in which crafts people were able to create trade goods for distribution throughout the area, and they maintained free and open lines of trade between major trade centers.

Like other powerful peoples, Mossi participated in the slave trade, raiding weaker neighboring peoples and shipping their captives south to the Atlantic coast, whence many were shipped to Brazil. Throughout the period, the Mossi maintained close ties to the Asante in Ghana and maintained mutual non-aggression treaties with their neighbors to the south.

The legacy of French colonialism from 1897 to 1960 was one of conscious underdevelopment. Burkina Faso is the second most densely populated country in Black Africa and was used as a source of human labor by the French for their rich plantations and factories in the Cote d’Ivoire. The French refused to develop an infrastructure, especially roads, that would compete with the railroad they had constructed to supply labor to the coast.

In the years since independence, a number of foreign governments as well as the United Nations and the European Economic Union, have attempted with considerable success to reverse this underdevelopment. The have paved roads and constructed factories, especially the large textile mill in Koudougou. The history of political change has been one of struggle between forces for democratization, with occasional free elections, and the military, which has used the excuse of corruption to seize power from the civilian government. There has been a constant struggle by representatives of the less numerous ethnic minorities to maintain some measure of power in balance of the size and power of the Mossi majority.

Entry Requirements
A passport and visa are required. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of Burkina Faso, 2340 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 332-5577. There are honorary consuls for Burkina Faso in Decatur (Georgia), Los Angeles and New Orleans. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Burkina Faso embassy or consulate.

Safety Issues
U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political gatherings and demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times. Visitors should not photograph airports, border checkpoints, or military personnel.

Medical Facilities
Medical facilities in Burkina Faso are limited. Medicine may be in short supply. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States.

Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at telephone 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); or by visiting the CDC Internet home page at http://www.cdc.gov.

Crime Information
Street crime in Burkina Faso poses moderate risks for visitors. Most reported incidents involve purse-snatchers and street scam artists. Wallets, jewelry and other valuables are subject to theft, especially during times of international meetings or events, which draw large crowds. In the capital, Ouagadougou, there has been a relatively high incidence of purse snatchings and muggings in the areas near and around the U.N. Circle and the central market. Travelers who stay alert, remain in groups and avoid poorly lit areas, especially after dark, may avoid problems.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Transportation
Travelers should exercise caution when traveling by land in Burkina Faso. Roads are in very bad condition. Travel at night is very risky since a large number of trucks pass through the country, and many drivers are not alert. Most roads are unpaved, potholed, and narrow.

Photography Restrictions
A valid photo permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Tourism; the Ministry's list of photo restrictions should be observed. The U.S. Embassy can provide information on specific photography regulations.

Currency Information
Credit cards are rarely accepted. Traveler’s checks may be cashed at local banks.

Communication
Local telephone service is excellent but expensive. International calls cannot always be made from hotels. It is often necessary to make international calls from a Post and Telecommunications Office, where only local currency is accepted. Collect calls are not possible.

Registry and Embassy Location
U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou on Avenue Raoul Follerau, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Burkina Faso. The mailing address is 01 B.P. 35, Ouagadougou. The telephone numbers are (226) 30-67-23/24/25; the fax number is (226) 31-23-68.

Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana

Area:
total: 274,200 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
water: 400 sq km

Area-comparative: slightly larger than Colorado

Land Boundaries: 0 km (landlocked) total: 3,192 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver

Geography—note: landlocked

Population: 11,575,898 (July 1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe

Ethnic groups: Mossi about 24%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani

Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%

Languages: French (official), tribal languages belonging to Sudanic family, spoken by 90% of the population

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy—overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 85% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of its macroeconomic progress in 1999-2000 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.

Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, and gold

Agriculture—products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock

Exports—commodities: cotton, animal products, and gold

Imports—commodities: machinery, food products, and petroleum

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Telephone system: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations
international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
total: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya)
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

Highways:
total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1995 est.)

Airports: 33 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia