This is a list of heads of state of Burkina Faso since the Republic of Upper Volta gained independence from France in 1960 to the present day.
A total of seven people have served as head of state of Upper Volta/Burkina Faso (not counting four Transitional Heads of State/Presidents and one Acting President in rebellion).
The current head of state of Burkina Faso is Interim President Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who took power during a coup d’état on 30 September 2022.
TERM LIMITS
As of 2021, there is a two-term limit for the president in the Constitution of Burkina Faso. The term limit has not been met by any president yet.
Read:POLITICAL HISTORY OF BURKINA FASO
TITLES
- 1960–1980: President of the Republic
- 1980–1982: President of Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress
- 1982: Chairman of Provisional Committee of Popular Salvation
- 1982–1983: Head of State
- 1983–1987: Chairman of National Revolutionary Council and Head of State
- 1987–1991: President of Popular Front and Head of State
- 1991–2014: President of the Republic
- 2015: Chairman of National Council for Democracy
- 2015–2022: President of the Republic
- 2022-present: President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration
LIST OF OFFICEHOLDERS
| . | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Term of office | Political party | Prime minister(s) | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| Republic of Upper Volta | ||||||||
| 1 | Maurice Yaméogo (1921–1993) |
1959 1965 |
5 August 1960 | 3 January 1966 (deposed) |
5 years, 151 days | UDV–RDA | Position not established | |
| 2 | Sangoulé Lamizana (1916–2005) |
1978 | 3 January 1966 | 25 November 1980 (deposed) |
14 years, 327 days | Military / Independent |
Ouédraogo Himself Conombo |
|
| 3 | Saye Zerbo (1932–2013) |
— | 25 November 1980 | 7 November 1982 (deposed) |
1 year, 347 days | Military | Himself | |
| 4 | Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo (born 1942) |
— | 9 November 1982 | 4 August 1983 (deposed) |
268 days | Military | Sankara | |
| 5 | Thomas Sankara (1949–1987) |
— | 4 August 1983 | 4 August 1984 | 1 year | Military | Position abolished | |
| Burkina Faso | ||||||||
| (5) | Thomas Sankara (1949–1987) |
— | 4 August 1984 | 15 October 1987 (assassinated) |
3 years, 72 days | Military | Position abolished | |
| 6 | Blaise Compaoré (born 1951) |
1991 1998 2005 2010 |
15 October 1987 | 31 October 2014 (resigned) |
27 years, 16 days | Military/ FP ODP–MT / CDP |
Y. Ouédraogo Kaboré K. D. Ouédraogo Yonli Zongo Tiao |
|
| – | Honoré Traoré (born 1957) claimant |
— | 31 October 2014 | 1 November 2014 | 1 day | Military | Position vacant | |
| – | Yacouba Isaac Zida (born 1965) |
— | 1 November 2014 | 18 November 2014 | 17 days | Military (RSP) |
Position vacant | |
| – | Michel Kafando (born 1942) |
— | 18 November 2014 | 17 September 2015 (deposed) |
303 days | Independent | Zida | |
| – | Gilbert Diendéré (born c. 1960) |
— | 17 September 2015 | 23 September 2015 (junta dissolved) |
6 days | Military
(RSP) |
Position vacant | |
| – | Chérif Sy (born 1960) |
— | 17 September 2015 | 23 September 2015 | 6 days | Independent | Position vacant | |
| – | Michel Kafando (born 1942) |
— | 23 September 2015 (restored) |
29 December 2015 | 97 days | Independent | Zida | |
| 7 | Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (born 1957) |
2015 2020 |
29 December 2015 | 24 January 2022 (deposed) |
6 years, 26 days | MPP | Thieba Dabiré L. Zerbo |
|
| – | Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba (born 1981) |
– | 24 January 2022 | 30 September 2022 (deposed) |
249 days | Military | Ouédraogo | |
| – | Ibrahim Traoré (born 1988) |
– | 30 September 2022 | Incumbent | 252 days | Military | Tambèla | |