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A chronology of key events
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1919
- Upper Volta becomes separate constituent territory of French West Africa.
National Guards band: 1980s saw a rash of military coups
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1932
- Upper Volta divided up between Cote d'Ivoire and French Sudan.
1947
- Upper Volta re-established as a separate territory within French West Africa.
1958
- Upper Volta becomes autonomous republic within the French Community.
Independence
1960
- Upper Volta becomes independent with Maurice Yameogo as president.
1966
- Yameogo toppled in a military coup led by Sangoule Lamizana following unrest over a government austerity programme.
1970
- New constitution approved in a national referendum allows Lamizana to remain in power until 1975, when he would be replaced by an elected president; Gerard Ouedraogo appointed prime minister.
1974
- Maurice Lamizana returns to the political scene by ousting Prime Minister Ouedraogo and dissolving parliament.
1977
- New multi-party constitution promulgated.
Coups
1978
- Maurice Lamizana chosen following multi-party elections.
1980
- Lamizana ousted in coup led by Saye Zerbo.
Cotton production is a mainstay of the economy
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1982
- Zerbo overthrown in coup led by Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo following industrial unrest.
1983
- Zerbo toppled in coup led by Thomas Sankara who adopts a policy of nonalignment and close relations with Ghana and Libya.
1984
- Upper Volta renamed Burkina Faso.
1987
- Thomas Sankara ousted and executed in coup led by his close aide, Blaise Campaore.
1990
- Campaore introduces limited democratic reforms.
1991
- Campaore re-elected without opposition under a new constitution.
Return to democracy
1992
- Campaore's Organisation for Popular Democracy-Labour Movement wins a majority of seats in the first multi-party parliamentary elections since 1978.
1996
- Meningitis kills 4,000.
1998
- Campaore wins presidential election by a landslide.
1999
June - General strike over economic grievances and alleged human rights violations.
1999
August - State-owned mining company Soremib announces the closure of the country's biggest gold mine.
1999
- Independent inquiry into 1998 death of journalist Norbert Zongo concludes he was a victim of political assassination.
2000
December - Government agrees to set up UN-run body to monitor weapons imports after allegations that it has been involved in smuggling arms to rebels in Sierra Leone and Angola.
2001
- Meningitis epidemic kills more than 1,500.
2002
October - Neighbouring Ivory Coast accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering dissident Ivorian soldiers. Burkina Faso raises concerns about attacks on Burkinabes in Ivory Coast after September's Ivorian military uprising.
2004
April - Military tribunal tries 13 people accused of plotting coup against President Compaore in October 2003. Army captain Luther Ouali jailed for 10 years for masterminding plot.
2005
November - President Compaore wins a third straight term in office.
2006
January-April - Meningitis outbreak kills more than 600 people.
2006
December - Burkina Faso postpones a regional economic summit after deadly gun battles between police and soldiers in the capital.
2007
May - The ruling party wins a majority in parliamentary polls.
2008
April - Two-day general strike follows weeks of protests about high living costs and call for wage increases.
2009
April - Parliament passes a law requiring at least 30% of candidates put forward for election by political parties to be women.
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