Political Leaders: Burkina Faso

Leaders of Burkina Faso
(to 1984, Republic of Upper Volta)

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Look for biographies of the leaders (in Spanish) at CIDOB website.

Parties: UDV-RDA: Voltaic Democratic Union-African Democratic Rally; MNR: National Movement for Renewal; FP: Popular Front; ODP-MT: Organization for People's Democracy-Workers' Movement; CDP: Congress for Democracy and Progress (new name of ODP-MT from 1996); n/p: non-party

Heads of State

Presidents of the Republic
Maurice Yaméogo            11 Dec 1959 -  4 Jan 1966 (+1993)   UDV-RDA (1)
Abubakar Sangoulé Lamizana  4 Jan 1966 - 25 Nov 1980 (+2005)   military/MNR (2)

Chairman of the Military Committee of Recovery for the National Progress
Saye Zerbo                 25 Nov 1980 -  7 Nov 1982           military 

Chairman of the Provisional Committee of Popular Salvation
Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo     9 Nov 1982 -  4 Aug 1983           military (3) 

Chairman of the National Revolutionary Council
Thomas Sankara              4 Aug 1983 - 15 Oct 1987 (+)a      military (4)

Head of State and chairman of the FP
Blaise Compaoré            15 Oct 1987 - 24 Dec 1991           military/FP (5)

President of the Republic 
Blaise Compaoré            24 Dec 1991 -                       ODP-MT, CDP

(1) Ruler of an independent State only since 5 Aug 1960.
(2) Head of the Provisional Military Government to 1970, then civilian president.
(3) From 26 Nov 1982, upon proclamation, styled head of State.
(4) In addition also styled head of State.
(5) Head of State only from 31 Oct 1987.

Prime Ministers

Gérard Kango Ouedraogo     13 Feb 1971 -  8 Feb 1974           UDV-RDA   
Abubakar Sangoulé Lamizana  8 Feb 1974 -  7 Jul 1978 (+2005)   MNR
Joseph Conombo              7 Jul 1978 - 25 Nov 1980 (+2008)   UDV-RDA
Saye Zerbo                 25 Nov 1980 -  7 Nov 1982           military
Thomas Sankara             10 Jan 1983 - 17 May 1983 (+1987)a  military
Youssouf Ouedraogo         16 Jun 1992 - 22 Mar 1994           
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré 22 Mar 1994 -  6 Feb 1996           ODP-MT
Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo      6 Feb 1996 -  7 Nov 2000           CDP
Paramanga Ernest Yonli      7 Nov 2000 -  4 Jun 2007           CDP
Tertius Zongo               4 Jun 2007 - 18 Apr 2011           n/p
Luc Adolphe Tiao           18 Apr 2011 -                       n/p

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