Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso (, ; ) is a landlocked country in West Africa. It covers an area of around and is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north; Niger to the east; Benin to the southeast; Togo and Ghana to the south; and Ivory Coast to the southwest. The July 2018 population estimate by the United Nations was 19,751,651. Burkina Faso is a francophone country, with French as the official language of government and business. Roughly 40% of the population speaks the Mossi language. Formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), the country was renamed "Burkina Faso" on 4 August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as "Burkinabé" ( ). Its capital is Ouagadougou.
2019 Burkina Faso government resignation
The resignations were announced on television by President Kaboré, but his announcement did not state any reasons for why his government resigned. Northern provinces of the country, particularly ones bordering Mali and Niger, have been in a state of emergency since 31 December, following a rise in jihadist attacks. In the week preceding these resignations, Burkina Faso's government extended the state of emergency for an additional six months in regions where terror attacks were reoccurring. According to the ACLED, at least 200 militant attacks were suspected throughout the country – including southern and western provinces – from 1 January 2018 to 12 January 2019. It is estimated that violence in the northern provinces has displaced at least 54,000 people since 2016. At least 60 attacks were confirmed by the ACLED to have happened in the country's eastern provinces since February 2018.
In the capital city Ouagadougou on Friday, 2 March 2018, jihadists initiated a coordinated attack against France's embassy to Burkina Faso as well as the Burkina Faso army headquarters. Eight were killed and more than 80 wounded. Burkina Faso security forces later killed all eight militants involved. French authorities were alerted once gunfire began, and French citizens in the area were told to stay inside. Windows were shattered at the Burkinabé Army headquarters and heavy smoke could be seen from the army chief of staff's office in Ouagadougou, with explosions being reported around the area. The United Nations condemned the attacks and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres requested that the nations of the world work to "promote national reconciliation and create the conditions for sustainable peace and development" in Burkina Faso. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with the Burkinabé President to express his condolences.