List of heads of state of Burkina Faso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of Burkina Faso |
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![]() Presidential Standard
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Residence | Kosyam Palace |
Term length | 5 years,
renewable once
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Inaugural holder | Maurice Yaméogo |
Formation | 5 August 1960 |
Succession | President of the National Assembly |
Salary | 858,399 FCFA annually including allowances |
Website | https://www.presidencedufaso.bf/ |
This article lists the leaders of Burkina Faso since it became independent from France in 1960. Before 1984, the country was known as the Republic of Upper Volta.
Since gaining independence, seven main leaders have served as head of state. There have also been a few temporary leaders during times of change.
Currently, Ibrahim Traoré is the interim president. He became leader on September 30, 2022.
Presidential Term Limits
Burkina Faso's rules say a president can serve only two terms. This rule is part of the country's constitution. So far, no president has reached this limit.
Past Leaders of Burkina Faso
This section lists the people who have led Burkina Faso since 1960. You'll see their names, when they were in charge, and their political groups.
- Political parties
Voltaic Democratic Union – African Democratic Rally (UDV–RDA) Popular Front (FP) Organization for Popular Democracy – Labour Movement (ODP–MT) Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) People's Movement for Progress (MPP)
- Other groups
Military Independent
- Leader status
Temporary Leader/President Acting President (disputed)
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Elected | Time in Office | Political group | Prime Minister(s) | ||
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Started | Ended | Total time | ||||||
Republic of Upper Volta (1960–1984) | ||||||||
1 | Maurice Yaméogo (1921–1993) |
1959 1965 |
5 August 1960 | 3 January 1966 (removed from power) |
5 years, 151 days | UDV–RDA | Position not established | |
2 | Sangoulé Lamizana (1916–2005) |
1978 | 3 January 1966 | 25 November 1980 (removed from power) |
14 years, 327 days | Military / Independent |
Ouédraogo Himself Conombo |
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3 | Saye Zerbo (1932–2013) |
— | 25 November 1980 | 7 November 1982 (removed from power) |
1 year, 347 days | Military | Himself | |
4 | Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo (born 1942) |
— | 9 November 1982 | 4 August 1983 (removed from power) |
268 days | Military | Sankara | |
5 | Thomas Sankara (1949–1987) |
— | 4 August 1983 | 4 August 1984 | 1 year | Military | Position abolished | |
Burkina Faso (since 1984) | ||||||||
(5) | Thomas Sankara (1949–1987) |
— | 4 August 1984 | 15 October 1987 (killed) |
3 years, 72 days | Military | Position abolished | |
6 | Blaise Compaoré (born 1951) |
1991 1998 2005 2010 |
15 October 1987 | 31 October 2014 (resigned) |
27 years, 16 days | Military / FP ODP–MT / CDP |
Y. Ouédraogo Kaboré K. D. Ouédraogo Yonli Zongo Tiao |
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– | Honoré Traoré (born 1957) claimant |
— | 31 October 2014 | 1 November 2014 | 1 day | Military | Position vacant | |
– | Yacouba Isaac Zida (born 1965) |
— | 1 November 2014 | 18 November 2014 | 17 days | Military (RSP) |
Position vacant | |
– | Michel Kafando (born 1942) |
— | 18 November 2014 | 17 September 2015 (removed from power) |
303 days | Independent | Zida | |
– | Gilbert Diendéré (born c. 1960) |
— | 17 September 2015 | 23 September 2015 (group dissolved) |
6 days | Military (RSP) |
Position vacant | |
– | Chérif Sy (born 1960) |
— | 17 September 2015 | 23 September 2015 | 6 days | Independent | Position vacant | |
– | Michel Kafando (born 1942) |
— | 23 September 2015 (restored) |
29 December 2015 | 97 days | Independent | Zida | |
7 | Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (born 1957) |
2015 2020 |
29 December 2015 | 24 January 2022 (removed from power) |
6 years, 26 days | MPP | Thieba Dabiré L. Zerbo |
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– | Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba (born 1981) |
– | 24 January 2022 | 30 September 2022 (removed from power) |
249 days | Military | Ouédraogo | |
– | Ibrahim Traoré (born 1988) |
– | 30 September 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 255 days | Military | Tambèla J. E. Ouédraogo |
Timeline of Leaders
This timeline shows when each leader was in charge and which political group they belonged to.

More Information
- Politics of Burkina Faso
- List of prime ministers of Burkina Faso
- List of colonial governors of French Upper Volta