The Republic of Upper Volta (French: République de Haute-Volta), or simply Upper Volta, was a landlocked West African country established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing state within the French Community. Before becoming autonomous, it was part of the French Union as the French Upper Volta. On 5 August 1960, it gained full independence from France. On 4 August 1984, it changed its name to Burkina Faso.
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Etymology
The name Upper Volta indicated that the country contains the upper part of the Volta River.
History
Upper Volta obtained independence on 5 August 1960, with Maurice Yaméogo of the Voltaic Democratic Union-African Democratic Rally (UDV-RDA) becoming the country's first president. A constitution was ratified the same year, establishing presidential elections by direct universal suffrage and a National Assembly, both with five-year terms. Shortly after coming to power, Yaméogo banned all political parties other than the UDV-RDA, as a result of a deep authoritarian streak that began prior to his presidency. Between the time he became prime minister of Upper Volta, while it was still a French colony, and independence two years later, his government subjected opposition parties to increased harassment.
On 3 January 1966, Yaméogo was overthrown in a coup d'état led by army chief Sangoulé Lamizana. Although multiparty democracy was nominally restored four years later, Lamizana dominated the country's politics until he was himself overthrown in 1980.
After a series of short-term presidencies, Thomas Sankara came to power through yet another military coup d'état on 4 August 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 4 August 1984, from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, which means "Land of Incorruptible People".
Politics
From 1958 to 1960, the Republic of Upper Volta was led by a high commissioner:
Max Berthet (11 December 1958 to February 1959)
Paul Masson (February 1959 to 5 August 1960)
From 1971 to 1987, the Republic of Upper Volta was led by a prime minister:
Gérard Kango Ouédraogo (13 February 1971 to 8 February 1974)
Thomas Sankara (4 August 1983 to 14 October 1987)
Symbols
Flag
The three colours of the Upper Volta's national flag are based on the three sections of the Volta:
The Black Volta;
The White Volta;
The Red Volta.
Cultural references
Beginning in the 1970s, politicians, diplomats and journalists sometimes derisively referred to the Soviet Union as "Upper Volta with rockets", implying a disproportionate defence sector compared to a relatively undeveloped civilian economy.