Republic of Upper Volta
| Republic of Upper Volta | ||||||||||
| République de Haute-Volta | ||||||||||
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Motto "Unité – Travail – Justice" (French) "Unity – Work – Justice" |
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Anthem Hymne National Voltaïque |
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| Capital | Ouagadougou | |||||||||
| Languages | French | |||||||||
| Government | Republic | |||||||||
| President | ||||||||||
| • | 1959–1966 | Maurice Yaméogo | ||||||||
| • | 1983–1984 | Thomas Sankara | ||||||||
| High Commissioner | ||||||||||
| • | 1958–1959 | Max Berthet | ||||||||
| • | 1959–1960 | Paul Masson | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | ||||||||||
| • | 1971–1974 | Gérard Kango Ouedraogo | ||||||||
| • | 1983 | Thomas Sankara | ||||||||
| Historical era | Cold War | |||||||||
| • | Self-governing colony | December 11, 1958 | ||||||||
| • | Independence | August 5, 1960 | ||||||||
| • | Renamed | August 4, 1984 | ||||||||
| Currency | CFA franc | |||||||||
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The Republic of Upper Volta (French: République de Haute-Volta) was a landlocked west-African country established on December 11, 1958, as a self-governing colony within the French Community. Before attaining autonomy it had been French Upper Volta and part of the French Union. On August 5, 1960, it attained full independence from France.
Thomas Sankara came to power through a military coup d'état on August 4, 1983. After the coup, he formed the National Council for the Revolution (CNR), with himself as president. Under the direction of Sankara, the country changed its name on August 4, 1984, from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, which means "Land of Incorruptible People".
The name Upper Volta indicated that the country contains the upper part of the Volta River. The river is divided into three parts—the Black Volta, White Volta, and Red Volta, which form the colors of the national flag corresponding to parts of the river.
Coordinates: 12°16′N 2°4′W / 12.267°N 2.067°W
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