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Five key facts about Burkina Faso

By AFP
Burkina Faso Burkina Faso's security forces patrol in the streets of Ouagadougou on November 28, 2015, on the eve of presidential elections.  By Issouf Sanogo AFP
NOV 29, 2015 LISTEN
Burkina Faso's security forces patrol in the streets of Ouagadougou on November 28, 2015, on the eve of presidential elections. By Issouf Sanogo (AFP)

Ouagadougou (AFP) - Five key facts about Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries of 17.6 million people, which holds presidential and legislative elections on Sunday:

- ONE OF THE WORLD'S POOREST COUNTRIES -

A low-income country, based on agriculture, with a per capita gross domestic product of just $710 in 2014, according to the World Bank. Main exports: gold and cotton, along with sorghum, maize and rice. Nearly half of the population lives on less than one dollar a day.

- A HISTORY OF COUPS -

Known in colonial times as Upper Volta, it became independent from France in 1960. Its name was changed to Burkina Faso ("the land of upright men") in 1984, a year after one of many military coups.

- 27 YEARS UNDER BLAISE COMPAORE -

Compaore came to power in a 1987 coup and began holding multi-party elections in 1991. From March to June 2011, a wave of army mutinies swept the country, alongside public protests over high food prices, unemployment and the looting of property by troops. Compaore was toppled by street protests at the end of October 2014, with the population angry at his bid to change the constitution in order to extend his 27-year rule.

An attempted coup in September 2015 led by Compaore's onetime presidential guard chief, General Gilbert Diendere, caused authorities to postpone presidential and legislative polls from October 11 until November 29.

Compaore mediated in several West African crises, notably Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali.

- LANDLOCKED -

A landlocked state in west Africa's arid Sahel region; at 274,200 square kilometres (106,000 square miles) it is about half as big as France, its former colonial ruler.

- MAIN CLAIM TO FAME IN AFRICA -

Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou is the venue for the annual Pan-African Film and TV Festival (FESPACO).

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