List of heads of state of Burkina Faso
The president of Burkina Faso is the head of state of Burkina Faso as well as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of [Burkina Faso]. 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.
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 Republic1980–1982: President of Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress1982: Chairman of Provisional Committee of Popular Salvation1982–1983: Head of State1983–1987: Chairman of National Revolutionary Council and Head of State1987–1991: President of Popular Front and Head of State1991–2014: President of the Republic2015: Chairman of National Council for Democracy2015–2022: President of the Republic2022–present: President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration2022–present: President of the RepublicList of officeholders
;Political parties;Other factions
;Status