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List of heads of state of Burkina Faso facts for kids

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President of Burkina Faso
Presidential Standard of Burkina Faso.svg
Presidential Standard
Ibrahim Traoré - 2023 (cropped).png
Incumbent
Ibrahim Traoré
(Interim)

since 30 September 2022
Residence Kosyam Palace
Term length 5 years,
renewable once
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)
Started Ended Total time
Republic of Upper Volta (1960–1984)
1
Maurice Yaméogo, 1960
Maurice Yaméogo
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
No image
Sangoulé Lamizana
Sangoulé Lamizana
(1916–2005)
1978 3 January 1966 25 November 1980
(removed from power)
14 years, 327 days Military /
Independent
Ouédraogo
Himself
Conombo
3
No image
Saye Zerbo
Saye Zerbo
(1932–2013)
25 November 1980 7 November 1982
(removed from power)
1 year, 347 days Military Himself
4
Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo at book signing
Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo
Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo
(born 1942)
9 November 1982 4 August 1983
(removed from power)
268 days Military Sankara
5
No image
Thomas Sankara
Thomas Sankara
(1949–1987)
4 August 1983 4 August 1984 1 year Military Position abolished
Burkina Faso (since 1984)
(5)
No image
Thomas Sankara
Thomas Sankara
(1949–1987)
4 August 1984 15 October 1987
(killed)
3 years, 72 days Military Position abolished
6
Blaise Compaoré 2014 White House (cropped)
Blaise Compaoré
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
General Honore Traore (Burkina Faso)
Honoré Traoré
Honoré Traoré
(born 1957)
claimant
31 October 2014 1 November 2014 1 day Military Position vacant
Yacouba Isaac Zida 2015
Yacouba Isaac Zida
Yacouba Isaac Zida
(born 1965)
1 November 2014 18 November 2014 17 days Military
(RSP)
Position vacant
Michel Kafando - 2015 (cropped)
Michel Kafando
Michel Kafando
(born 1942)
18 November 2014 17 September 2015
(removed from power)
303 days Independent Zida
Gilbert Diendéré 2010-05-01
Gilbert Diendéré
Gilbert Diendéré
(born c. 1960)
17 September 2015 23 September 2015
(group dissolved)
6 days Military
(RSP)
Position vacant
Chérif Sy 2019
Chérif Sy
Chérif Sy
(born 1960)
17 September 2015 23 September 2015 6 days Independent Position vacant
Michel Kafando - 2015 (cropped)
Michel Kafando
Michel Kafando
(born 1942)
23 September 2015
(restored)
29 December 2015 97 days Independent Zida
7
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (04-06-2018)
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré
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
Le lieutenant-colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, Ouagadougou le 27 janvier 2022 (cropped)
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba
(born 1981)
24 January 2022 30 September 2022
(removed from power)
249 days Military Ouédraogo
Ibrahim Traoré - 2023 (cropped)
Ibrahim Traoré
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.

Ibrahim Traoré Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba Roch Marc Christian Kaboré Chérif Sy Gilbert Diendéré Michel Kafando Yacouba Isaac Zida Honoré Traoré Blaise Compaoré Thomas Sankara Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo Saye Zerbo Sangoulé Lamizana Maurice Yaméogo

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