Burkina Faso

A poor country even by West African standards, landlocked Burkina Faso has suffered from recurring droughts, matched in number only by the military coups it has endured, especially during the 1980s.

Burkina Faso has significant reserves of gold, but the production of cotton remains the economic mainstay for many Burkinabes. However, the industry is highly vulnerable to changes in world prices.

Formerly Upper Volta, Burkina Faso has spent many of its post-independence years under military rule.

After taking power in a 1983 coup, Thomas Sankara adopted a policy of nonalignment, developed relations with Libya and Ghana, and gave the country its present name, which translates as "land of honest men".

In 1987 Mr Sankara was overthrown and then executed in a coup masterminded by Blaise Compaore, who has since instituted a multi-party system.

Burkina Faso has faced domestic and external concern over the state of its economy and human rights, and allegations that it was involved in the smuggling of diamonds by rebels in Sierra Leone.

A rebellion in neighbouring Ivory Coast has raised tensions. Ivory Coast has accused Burkina Faso of backing rebels who hold the north of the country, a claim denied by Ouagadougou, which accuses its neighbour of mistreating Burkinabes living in Ivory Coast.