Africa | Politics
Africa — The Republic of Burkina Faso & The Legacy of Thomas Sankara
Here I’ll give a brief intro to the West African country that has a special place in my heart
By: TB Obwoge
In the late 1800’s several different European countries tried to colonize and take over what is modern day named Burkina Faso. The British attempted to take over as well as tried to forge with the Native Africans who own and lived on the land.
Later France came into the picture, historians love using the term “The French” when talking about France even though Burkinabé are also French speakers. (many West Africans speak French due to colonization) Burkinabé is the term for the citizens of Burkina Faso.
On 5 August 1960, it (Burkina Faso) attained full independence from France. The first president, Maurice Yaméogo, was the leader of the Voltaic Democratic Union (UDV). The 1960 constitution provided for election by universal suffrage of a president and a national assembly for five-year terms. Soon after coming to power, Yaméogo banned all political parties other than the UDV. The government lasted until 1966. After much unrest, including mass demonstrations and strikes by students, labor unions, and civil servants, the military intervened.
