Burkina Faso: Overview

Country Rating  » Not Rated

Home  ›  Africa  ›  Burkina Faso  ›  Overview

Overview

Burkina Faso (pop. 13,723,000; GDP/cap US$454) is a small, poor, landlocked country, located to the North of Ghana. Post-independence, it experienced coups and military rule. After President Blaise Campaore came to power in 1987, a multi-party parliamentary republic emerged.

The country relies heavily on foreign aid. Despite substantial gold reserves and untapped mineral resources, the majority of the population still relies on agriculture, mainly cotton. The government is undertaking privatization and austerity measures, the benefits of which remain to be seen.

Political stability is tenuous, given a weak economy, corruption, the inability to service demands of the factionalized civil society, and the spillover effects of the ongoing war in neighboring Cote d’Ivoire.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AROUND THE WORLD

Europe
UK house prices softening

• France housing market slowing substantially
• Warsaw catches cold

Asia & Pacific
Bubble fears prompt foreign ownership limits in China

• Singapore condos in full swing
• New Zealand just carries on

America & Caribbean
The slowdown of the U.S. housing market

• Canada ignores the US blues
• Costa Rica at the centre of all

Middle East and Africa
Bahrain is open to foreigners and sizzling hot

• Dubai: Heading for a fall?
• Tourists flood Morocco