The Very Highest Quality Information...


Burkina Faso and Burkinabe Coins Click here to return to Information IndexChard 24 Carat Home Page

A-Z Countries Index
A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z  

Burkina Faso
We Want To Buy Burkinabe Coins

A Brief History of Burkina Faso

Colonial History
Before French colonisation, the territory of what now constitutes Burkina Faso was mostly occupied by several different Mossi kingdoms. This territory was occupied by the French by 1898, but it was not until 1919 that the borders of what is now Burkina Faso where defined when the colony of Upper Volta (after the River Volta) was created by the French. There was an attempt in the 1930s to split the colony up again and divide its territories amongst the surrounding French colonies, but this was reversed in the face of intense local opposition. Following World War II, agitation for more self-government culminated in the creation of the autonomous Republic of Upper Volta, followed by full independence 2 years later.

Post-Independence
The new republic’s first president, Maurice Yaméogo attempted to rule it as a dictator by abolishing all political parties other than his own. However, in 1966 he was ousted from power by the military following a nationwide strike by the unions. The military under Lt Colonel (later Major General) Lamizana assumed power, and Lamizana essentially remained in power until 1980, when he too was overthrown in 1980 and replaced by Colonel Saye Zerbo. Thomas Sankara came to power in 1983, instituting a Marxist government but setting an example to others by living frugally and attempting to stamp out corruption and reliance on foreign aid. He renamed the country ‘Burkina Faso’ from Upper Volta in 1984. He was however, overthrown and executed on the orders of his successor and current president Blaise Compaore.
Blaise Compaore reversed most of his predecessor’s policies, although he did not take what might have been seen as an unfortunate symbolic step by reversing Sankara’s renaming of the country from ‘land of honest people’ back to its original name.
Compaore also reinstituted the typically extravagant and profligate lifestyle of most of his fellow African dictators in the midst of great poverty amongst his people, but opposition to his rule has grown in recent years. A serious challenge to his rule took place in April 2011 when a series of riots took place which forced Compaore to flee the capital temporarily and then make serious concessions in order to remain in office.

Burkinabe Coins
As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, Burkina Faso does not have a currency of its own. Instead, it uses the West Africa Franc along with 7 other members of the currency union. Coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 250, 500 francs are struck for circulation. The Centime sub-unit exists only in theory.

For Sale and Wanted
If you are interested in coins from Burkina Faso please see our product index:-
Burkinabe Coins

Gold Coins
We also have gold coins from Burkina Faso on our taxfreegold website:-
Burkinabe Gold Coins



...at the Lowest Possible Price

32 - 36 Harrowside, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1RJ, England.
Telephone (44) - (0) 1253 - 343081 ; Fax 408058; E-mail: info@chards.co.uk
The URL for our main page is: https://24carat.co.uk
Web Design by Snoop