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A chronology of key events: 1919 - Upper Volta becomes separate constituent territory of French West Africa.
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THOMAS SANKARA
Made president after 1983 coup
Saw himself as a revolutionary
Promoted women's rights
Renamed Upper Volta as Burkina Faso
Killed in 1987 coup
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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.
Maurice Yameogo, (l) first post-independence president, and Sangoule Lamizana, who ousted him
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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. 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.
Cotton production is a mainstay of the economy
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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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