In 2003, Burkina Faso was a small landlocked country located in the western region of Africa. It was bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, and Ghana. Its economy was mainly based on subsistence agriculture and livestock farming as well as gold mining and cotton production. Infrastructure throughout the country had improved significantly since gaining independence from France in 1960 but still lagged behind other African countries. Unemployment had decreased since the 1990s but still remained relatively high due to a lack of investment in infrastructure and technology. According to computergees, the government at this time was led by Prime Minister Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo who had implemented a number of economic reforms including increased investment in infrastructure and social programs to reduce poverty. Foreign investment had increased significantly in recent years due to Burkina Faso’s favorable business climate and proximity to major markets such as Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Tourism also played a major role in driving economic growth due to its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and abundance of attractions such as Grand Mosque of Bobo-Dioulasso and W National Park. Ouagadougou had become one of the most important cities in West Africa at this time and had attracted many international businesses looking for a base of operations within the region.
Yearbook 2003
Burkina Faso. In October, twelve people were arrested accused of planning a coup. Among the arrested were two army captains. Prosecutor Abdoulaye Barry said the suspects would be brought to trial in a military court. According to Barry, the conspirators had received financial support from another country and were waiting for weapons from there when the plans were revealed. The prosecutor did not want to say which country he was referring to, but Burkina Faso’s connections with neighboring Ivory Coast have been very tense for some time.
According to Countryaah.com, Burkina Faso Independence Day is August 5. Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has accused Burkina Faso of supporting the rebels who tried to overthrow him. On July 4, however, the Ivory Coast military and rebels declared that the civil war was over. In September, the border between the two neighboring countries was opened after being closed for almost a year because of the war. Ivory Coast peace was fragile, but the authorities promised to guarantee the safety and free movement of people and goods across the border. Access to the neighboring country means a lot to Burkina Faso, which has no coast. Prior to the Civil War, about 350,000 Burkinians worked in Ivory Coast, most of them on cocoa and coffee plantations. Many also depend on cross-border trade.
September
The government triggers a state of emergency after heavy rainfall
September 10
Authorities are announcing a state of emergency after 13 people died in connection with torrential rains that caused severe floods. President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré announces that the government has earmarked money to assist the victims.
Jihadist attacks hit gold mining hard
5 September
Jihadists have been able to earn about $ 140 million by attacking the country’s gold mines, according to a report commissioned by the government. Their attacks have also led to extensive property damage and increased security costs (the price tag is set in the report at over $ 1 billion). At the same time, extraction from the gold mines has generally become increasingly important for the country’s economy and in 2018 was estimated to account for just over 11 percent of GDP.
Tough opposition for Kaboré in this autumn’s presidential election
September 3
It is now beginning to be clear who the candidates will be in the presidential election on 22 November. The ruling MPP will be represented by the incumbent president and Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Assessors point out that he will face even tougher competition in this year’s election than he did in 2015, and if there is a second round of elections, several other candidates have signed a pact to support each other in it (see August 2020). Among the candidates is the opposition party UPC leader Zéphirin Diabré, while the CDP has chosen Eddie Komboïgo, who was close to ousted president Blaise Compaoré. The latter, however, is controversial, even within his own party. Former Prime Minister Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, also known as Kado, is another politician with ties to Compaoré who will now stand for Agir Ensemble, a new party formed as late as 2019. Former Foreign Minister Ablassé Ouédraogo, the charismatic former Minister of Culture Tahirou Barry and former Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida also intends to run. However, the magazine Africa Confidential notes that it is likely to be difficult to hold the presidential election, and the parliamentary election held on the same day, in the troubled parts of the country.
Burkina Faso Brief Guide
According to AbbreviationFinder, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) is a landlocked country in West Africa. Its neighbors are Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo and Ghana. “Burkina Faso” in the local Moré and Dioula languages means “the land of decent people.” Burkina Faso got its current name on August 4, 1984, formerly the state was called Upper Volta. Today, the country is also known as Burkina.