Government Government of Burkina Faso President Burkina Faso
Description of Work:
Blaise Campaore came to power in a coup in 1987. He subsequently won three presidential elections, the latest in November 2005. Poll officials said he had taken more than 80% of the vote.

When he was elected for his second term in 1998 the poll was boycotted by the main opposition parties.

Born in 1950 and trained as a soldier in Cameroon and Morocco, Blaise Compaore served under Thomas Sankara as minister of state to the presidency, before deposing and executing him in 1987.

He disarmed local militias and, despite his reputed left-wing leanings, embarked on a programme of privatisation and austerity measures sponsored by the International Monetary Fund. After officially rejecting socialism he was elected president unopposed in 1991.

The president exercises executive power, appoints the prime minister and keeps a tight hold over the military and government bodies. He portrays himself as the guarantor of political stability and economic progress.

His regime has been marked by an expanded private sector, increased foreign investment, and greater political stability. Although there have been some democratic reforms, he has implicated in human-rights abuses, including the death of a reporter.

(Information found at bbc.co.uk and encyclopedia.com)