lished
following coup of 25 November 1980; constitutional referendum scheduled
for June 1991

_#_Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law

_#_National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)

_#_Executive branch: chairman of the Popular Front, Council of
Ministers

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale) was dissolved on 25 November 1980

_#_Judicial branch: Appeals Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Chairman of the
Popular Front Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

_#_Political parties and leaders: all political parties banned
following November 1980 coup

_#_Suffrage: none

_#_Elections: the National Assembly was dissolved 25 November 1980;
presidential elections are scheduled for 3 November 1991 and legislative
elections for 8 December 1991

_#_Communists: small Communist party front group; some sympathizers

_#_Other political or pressure groups: committees for the defense of
the revolution, watchdog/political action groups throughout the country
in both organizations and communities

_#_Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO,
FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Paul Desire KABORE;
Chancery at 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 332-5577 or 6895;

US--Ambassador Edward P. BRYNN; Embassy at Avenue Raoul Follerau,
Ouagadougou (mailing address is 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou);
telephone [226] 30-67-23 through 25 and [226] 33-34-22

_#_Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina
has a high population density, few natural resources, and relatively
infertile soil. Economic development is hindered by a poor communications
network within a landlocked country. Agriculture provides about 40% of
GDP and is entirely of a subsistence nature. Industry, dominated by
unprofitable government-controlled corporations, accounts for about
15% of GDP.

_#_GDP: $1.75 billion, per capita $205 (1988); real growth rate 3%
(1989)

_#_Inflation