October 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI
(since 6 November 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the prime minister election results:
Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5% percent of the vote note:
recent charges against a former member of his Presidential Guard in the
1998 assassination of a newspaper editor signify an attempt to defuse
chronic areas of dissatisfaction elections: president elected by popular
vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to
be held NA 2005); in April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing
the presidential term from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005,
and allowing the president to be reelected only once; it is unclear
whether this amendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime
minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
(111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17 elections: National
Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders: African Democratic Rally-Alliance for
Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for
Federation and Democracy or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for
Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement
for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Noyabtigungu Congo KABORE]; Party for
African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and
Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for the Development
of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Burkinabe General Confederation
of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group
of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB;
National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action
groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber),
ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WADB (regional), W