Natural resources and energy
There are good mineral resources in Burkina
Faso, but only a small part of them is mined. The most
important for the economy is the gold, which since 2009
is the country's most important export product.
After a fall in production in the late 1990s,
bolstered by a fall in gold prices, recovery took off
again after the turn of the millennium. The mining
sector is liberalized and a number of foreign companies
have invested in the country. Several new mines were
opened in the 2000s and production has increased
rapidly. In 2013, nine mines accounted for 90 percent of
gold mining. In 2017, they had increased to 13.
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COUNTRYAAH:
Major exports by Burkina Faso with a full list of the top products exported by the country. Includes trade value in U.S. dollars and the percentage for each product category.
At the same time, there has also been an upswing in
craft gold extraction, which is estimated to account for
10 to 20 percent of the gold mined in the country. But
it is possible that the proportion is even higher as
some of the gold is probably smuggled out to neighboring
countries.
The increasing violence in especially the northern
part of the country has led to a tightening of security
around the mines. In the fall of 2019, however, an
attack was made on workers at the Canadian mining
company Semafo, where at least 37 people were killed
(see Calendar).
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Abbreviationfinder: A popular acronym site in the world covering abbreviation for each country. For example, BF stands for Burkina Faso.
Otherwise, zinc is the only mineral of greater
commercial value. Manganese and limestone are mined on a
smaller scale, but the mining industry is in need of
better infrastructure, mainly roads, to be able to
develop. The lack of security is another obstacle to an
expansion of mining operations. Most of the manganese
assets are in an area where jihadist groups are active.
Reserves are also available of phosphate, silver, lead,
bauxite, copper and nickel.
Most of the energy consumed in the country comes from
firewood. The electricity comes largely from oil-fired
thermal power plants but also from hydropower. The
electricity grid is under development, and both the
capital Ouagadougou and the country's second largest
city Bobo-Dioulasso have been connected to the Ivory
Coast's electricity grid. There are plans for a similar
connection to the Ghanaian network. But Burkina Faso
suffers from severe electricity supply shortages and
repeated power cuts are a major obstacle to economic
development. In 2017, 66 percent of city residents had
access to electricity, but only 3 percent of the rural
population. The Government aims to have at least 45 per
cent of Burkinians have access to electricity from 2020.
Extensions are being made, among other things, with the
support of money from the World Bank. Electricity prices
are higher in Burkina Faso than in most of the
neighboring countries.
In autumn 2017, the largest solar power plant in
Zagtouli was opened just outside Ouagadougou. The power
plant has been built using money from the EU and France.
There is also an investment in smaller solar power
plants to supply the countryside with electricity.
Burkina Faso has major problems with soil degradation
due to the hunt for wood, which reduces forest area. The
livestock herds also struggle hard on the ground. Tree
planting projects have slowed down the destruction to
some extent.
FACTS - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Carbon dioxide emissions in total
2 849 thousand tonnes (2014)
Carbon dioxide emissions per inhabitant
0.2 ton (2014)
The share of energy from renewable sources
74.2 percent (2015)
2015
December
Kaboré takes over as president
December 29
Kaboré takes over as president. The next day, another
former close employee of Compaoré, Salif Diallo, is
elected President of the National Assembly.
International arrest warrant against Compaoré
A court is issuing an international arrest warrant
against Compaoré, who is living in a country escape in
Ivory Coast.
Prosecution in the Zongo murder
Three soldiers are charged with the 1998 murder of
journalist Norbert Zongo (see Mass Media). The murder
has emerged as a symbol of oppression during the
Compajoré regime.
Diendéré is indicted for the Sankara murder
The coup-maker General Gilbert Diendéré is indicted
for participation in the assassination of President
Sankara in 1987.
November
Election victory for Kaboré and MPP
November 29th
Today's president and parliament are described as the
first election in half a century where the results are
not obvious in advance. 14 candidates are vying for the
presidential post. Winner makes former Prime Minister
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré , of the People's Progress
Movement (MPP) , with 53.5 percent of the vote, while
Zéphirin Diabré of the Union for Progress and Change (UPC)
wins almost 30 percent. The turnout is 60 percent. The
MPP also wins the parliamentary elections with 55 seats
against 33 for the UPC and 18 seats for the Democracy
and Progress Congress (CDP). Another eleven parties
joined the National Assembly. During his years as close
associates of Compaoré, Kaboré was, among others, the
Prime Minister and the President of the National
Assembly. He becomes the first civilian president of
Burkina Faso in almost half a century. Kaboré says in
his victory speech that his most important task will be
to speed up the country's economy in order to meet the
basic needs of the inhabitants. MPP must be supported by
at least nine members in order to form a coalition
government.
Constitutional change: the president may only be
re-elected once
November 6
An almost unanimous National Assembly votes to limit
future presidential power holdings to a maximum of two
terms of office each of five years. In addition, the law
is written into the constitution with the proviso that
it cannot be changed under any circumstances.
October
Bullet holes in what is believed to be Sankara's
remains
The remains dug out of Thomas Sankara's tomb are full
of bullet holes, according to the lawyer representing
the murdered president's family (see May 2015).
As yet, no results have come from DNA samples that can
confirm that it was really Sankara who was lying in the
grave.
The coup leader surrenders
After a few days in flight, Diendéré surrenders to
the authorities and is taken into custody. He says he
sought protection from the Vatican's ambassador shortly
before the army attacked the coup makers. Diendéré will
be prosecuted later. The crime classification includes
murder and threats to the security of the state. Former
Foreign Minister Djibrill Bassolé, who denies any
involvement in the coup attempt, is also prosecuted.
September
The army is believed to have defeated the coup
makers
The government accuses the presidential guard of
refusing to be disarmed and of taking army soldiers
hostage. The army is attacking the coup makers' position
and seems to strike the last resistance. Diendéré is
said to have disappeared when the army soldiers enter
the facility. From an unknown place, he says that many
people may have been killed in the army attack. Many
soldiers must have had their families with them in the
facility.
The Presidential Guard is dissolved
The interim government decides to dissolve the
presidential guard. The Prosecutor's Office blocks the
financial assets of 14 of the participants in the coup
attempt, including the leader Diendéré. Four parties
linked to Compaoré also have their assets frozen.
The coup makers give up
Faced with pressure from the public and neighboring
governments, and facing the threat of clashes, the coup
leaders agree to return power to the lawful transitional
government. The Presidential Guard retreats to its
location in Ouagadougou, while the regular army forces
agree to move five miles outside the city. President
Kafando appears in public and confirms that the civilian
government has taken over. Six West African neighboring
presidents head to Burkina Faso to monitor the return to
legal rule.
Stance war between army factions
Coup soldiers retain control of the presidential
palace, while government loyal soldiers who have come to
Ouagadougou occupy most other strategic places and
buildings in the city.
Soldiers march towards the capital
The mediator's proposals are met by protests in
Ouagadougou and from military posts around the country,
soldiers are loyal to the legal government of the
capital. The coup leader Diendéré is said to be prepared
to return power but wants to await the outcome of a
regional summit on the coup. Zida is released, and
Kafando, who has been in house arrest, seeks protection
at the home of the French ambassador.
Ecowas takes a soft line against the coup maker and
Compaoré's followers
The mediators from Ecowas suggest that the legal
leaders be reinstated and that the coup makers should
not be punished. It is proposed that elections can be
held by November 22 and politicians loyal to Compaoré
are proposed to participate. The future of the
Presidential Guard should allow newly elected leaders to
decide on Ecowas.
AU faces sanctions against the coup leaders
The African Union (AU) issues sanctions against the
coup leaders. They are prohibited from traveling to
other Member States and any financial assets abroad are
blocked.
The military releases Kafando
The AU demands that the junta immediately return
power to the provisional government. Senegal President
Macky Sall and Benin President Boni Yayi head to
Ouagadougou to try to mediate on behalf of Ecowas. This
leads to the military releasing Acting President
Kafando.
The President challenges the junta
Provisional Parliament Speaker Moumina Sheriff Sy
says he is the country's rightful president as long as
Kafando is being held in custody. He urged the majority
of the country's military to strike down the coup, which
he said was carried out by a small group of officers.
The military is pushing the boundaries
A close ally of Compaoré, the military intelligence
service's former chief general Gilbert Diendéré, is said
to be leading the military junta. About 10 civilians are
reported to have been shot dead during a demonstration
in Ouagadougou against the military's takeover of power.
The military junta says the country's borders have been
closed.
The Presidential Guard is making coup attempts
A National Reconciliation and Reform Commission
recommends the dissolution of the Presidential Guard
(1,200 men) as it interferes with the work of the
Provisional Government. A day later, the presidential
guard seizes the acting president Kafando, the acting
prime minister Zida and two ministers. The military
declares Kafando deposed and the provisional government
dissolved. A spokesman says a "national democracy
council" has been formed to conduct general elections in
the long run. The coup is condemned by a united world.
August
Court decides: CDP politicians may not participate
in parliamentary elections
The Constitutional Court finds that Burkina Law has
precedence before the ruling by Ecowas (see July
2015) and excludes some 40 people in the
Compaoré district from participating in the
parliamentary elections on 11 October.
July
More accurate pay checks should save you money
The government cancels payroll payments to over 1,200
public employees who are unlikely to exist. Another 200
suspected cheaters' wages are frozen. Since May, the
state only pays wages to those who personally apply to
claim pay and who have a public service. The state is
believed to save almost one percent of public wage costs
through its more rigorous control.
CDP members are allowed to run for office
A regional court and the co-operating organization
Ecowas void the April 2015 law that prohibits supporters
of President Compaoré from running for election. The
Abuja Court declares that the law contravenes the
principle that everyone should participate in elections.
The judgment cannot be appealed.
June
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) grants loans
Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast jointly borrow $ 100
million to modernize and simplify trade between the two
neighboring countries. This is the first time that the
IMF supports a regional project of this kind.
April
The CDP is not allowed to stand in the elections
Parliament adopts a law that effectively excludes all
members of the CDP from running in the 2015 elections.
March
Sankara's grave should be opened
The government decides to open the tomb of former
President Thomas Sankara to determine that it is the
dust of the revolutionary hero that rests there. Ever
since Sankara was killed during a coup in 1997 (see
Modern History), there has been doubt that the tomb
contains his remains.
February
Protests against the presidential guard
Several thousand people are demonstrating in
Ouagadougou demanding that the presidential guard, which
was built up by the deposed head of state Compaoré, be
dissolved. The protesters accuse the guard of trying to
interfere in the ongoing transition to democracy.
January
Elections are scheduled for October
The government announces that presidential and
parliamentary elections will be held on October 11.
MPs cut their salaries in half
The 90 members of the Provisional Parliament are
voting to cut their salaries by half, following a debate
in social media about parliamentarians' salaries and
benefits. One MP earns up to SEK 25,000 per month, which
is about 20 times more than an average salary in the
country.
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