The president of Burkina Faso () is the head of state of Burkina Faso as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. It is the highest office in Burkina Faso and has significant executive power, including appointing the prime minister and other government officials. The president also has the power to dissolve parliament and issue decrees.
The office was first established in August 1960 as president of Upper Volta () after the country gained independence from France. Maurice Yaméogo was the first holder of that office. On 4 August 1984, the day before the 24th anniversary of independence, Thomas Sankara, who was the president from exactly one year earlier, became the president of Burkina Faso after the country changed its name the same day.
A total of seven people have served as president of Upper Volta/Burkina Faso (not counting four transitional heads of state/presidents and one acting president in rebellion).
The current interim president is Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who took power during a coup d'état on 30 September 2022.
Term of office The president is elected directly to a five-year term. Following amendments in the constitution in 2000, the president should serve no more than two terms even though the term limit has not been met by any president yet.
Titles 1960–1980: President of the Republic 1980–1982: President of Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress 1982: Chairman of Provisional Committee of Popular Salvation 1982–1983: Head of State 1983–1987: Chairman of National Revolutionary Council and Head of State 1987–1991: President of Popular Front and Head of State 1991–2014: President of the Republic 2015: Chairman of National Council for Democracy 2015–present: President of the Republic 2022–present: President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration
List of officeholders Political parties
Other factions
Status
PortraitNameElectedTerm of officePolitical partyPrime minister(s) Took office Left office Time in officeRepublic of Upper Volta 1 Maurice Yaméogo 19591965 1960 1966 UDV–RDA Position not established 2 Sangoulé Lamizana 1978 1966 1980 Military / Independent OuédraogoHimselfConombo 3 Saye Zerbo — 1980 1982 Military Himself 4 Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo — 1982 1983 Military Sankara 5 Thomas Sankara — 1983 1984 year Military Position abolishedBurkina Faso Thomas Sankara — 1984 1987 Military Position abolished 6 Blaise Compaoré 1991199820052010 1987 2014 Y. OuédraogoKaboréK. D. OuédraogoYonliZongoTiao – Honoré Traoré — 2014 2014 Military Position vacant – Yacouba Isaac Zida — 2014 2014 Military Position vacant – Michel Kafando — 2014 2015 Independent Zida – Gilbert Diendéré — 2015 2015 Military Position vacant – Chérif Sy — 2015 2015 Independent Position vacant – Michel Kafando — 2015 2015 Independent Zida 7 Roch Marc Christian Kaboré 20152020 2015 2022 MPP ThiebaDabiréL. Zerbo – Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba – 2022 2022 Military Ouédraogo – Ibrahim Traoré – 2022 Incumbent Military TambèlaJ. E. Ouédraogo
Timeline
Latest election
See also Politics of Burkina Faso List of prime ministers of Burkina Faso List of colonial governors of French Upper Volta
Notes
References
External links Presidency World Statesmen – Burkina Faso