Burkina Faso is not a lucky country.
The first of these disadvantages is that it’s a landlocked country. It’s in Western Africa bordering Benin (that we covered last week) and in is in that awkward Sahel belt meaning much of its land is being consumed by the expanding Sahara Desert.
Burkina Faso was a French colony until 1960, known as Upper Volta until adopting its current name in 1984. Burkina Faso literally translates as “Land of the Honest (Incorruptible) Men” according to the CIA World Fact Book.
Burkina Faso is deemed as one of the world’s most dangerous countries, in fact it’s so dangerous schools are closed because of security incidents and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel.
It’s unsurprising that Burkina Faso is dangerous - it’s suffered recurring droughts, serious famines and many coups and counter-coups over the past 50 years.
On a more positive note, Burkina Faso is home to the largest craft market in Africa and some truly incredible Sudano-Sahelian architecture.
80% of Burkina Faso’s population rely on subsistence farming.
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