什么是布吉纳法索

旧称上伏塔（Upper Volta）

非洲西部内陆国，位於撒哈拉沙漠之南。面积274,200平方公里。人口约12,272,000（2001）。首都︰瓦加杜古。有两个主要种族集团，一个是伏塔人（古尔）集团，另一个是莫西人，此外还有豪萨人和富拉尼人。语言︰法语（官方语）、莫瑞语和迪尤拉语。宗教：约1/5的人口信奉传统宗教，其他的1/5是穆斯林，有一小部分是基督徒。货币︰非洲金融共同体法郎（CFAF）。该国由一个辽阔的高原组成，北部是稀树草原，南部则是散布着一些森林。高原被黑伏塔、红伏塔及白伏塔等三条主要河流深深切割，这些河流都向南流入迦纳。经济以农业为主。政府形式为共和国，有一谘询机构和一个立法机构。国家元首是总统，政府首脑为总理。

大约在西元14世纪，莫西和古尔马人在东部和中部地区建立自己的王国，亚滕加和瓦加杜古的莫西王国还一直持续到20世纪初。1895～1897年成为法国的保护国。1898年英法协商解决了南部边界问题。最初属上塞内加尔-尼日殖民地一部分，1919年单独成为上伏塔殖民地。1947年上伏塔又成为法兰西联邦的海外领地。1958年底成为法兰西共同体内的自治共和国。1960年完全独立。此後主要由军人统治，并发生多次政变，1984年在一次政变後，更改国名为吉布纳法索。1991年采用新宪法，恢复多党统治。

Burkina Faso

Republic, West Africa. A landlocked country, it lies south of the Sahara Desert. Area: 105,869 sq mi (274,201 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 10,891,000. Capital: Ouagadougou. Its two principal ethnic groups are the Voltaic (Gur), and the Mossi; there are also Hausa and Fulani. Languages: French (official), Moré, Dyula. Religions: About one-fifth of the population practice traditional religions; another one-fifth are Muslims; a small number are Christian. Currency: CFA franc. Burkina Faso consists of an extensive plateau, characterized by a savanna, grassy in the north and sparsely forested in the south. The plateau is notched by the valleys of the Mouhoun (Black Volta), Nazion (Red Volta), and Nakanbe rivers, which flow south into Ghana. Its economy is largely agricultural. It is a republic with one advisory body and one legislative body; its chief of state is the president and its head of government, the prime minister. Probably in the 14th century, the Mossi and Gurma peoples established themselves in eastern and central areas. The Mossi kingdoms of Yatenga and Ouagadougou existed into the early 20th century. A French protectorate was established over the region 1895-97, and its southern boundary was demarcated through an Anglo-French agreement. It was part of the Upper Senegal-Niger (see Mali) colony, then became a separate colony in 1919. It was constituted an overseas territory within the French Union in 1947, became an autonomous republic within the French Community in 1958, and achieved total independence in 1960. Since then, it has been ruled primarily by the military and has experienced several coups; following one in 1984, the country received its present name. A new constitution, adopted in 1991, restored multiparty rule.