In tonight’s edition: Supporters of Malawi’s opposition took to the streets of Blantyre on Wednesay as their presidential candidate presented nomination papers for the July re-run of last years election. The outcome initially returned President Peter Mutharika to office but the result was historically overturned in a landmark ruling in February. In Burkina Faso a young man has created a digital school so that students can keep taking classes on their smartphones during the lockdown. And finally South Africa turns to virtual tourism as national parks stream their safaris online.
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In This Story: Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa that covers an area of around 274,200 square kilometres (105,900 sq mi) and is bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
The July 2019 population estimate by the United Nations was 20,321,378. Previously called Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), it was renamed “Burkina Faso” on 4 August 1984 by President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabé, and its capital is Ouagadougou.
Due to French colonialism, the country’s official language of government and business is French, but this language is spoken by approximately only 10-15% of the population. There are 59 native languages spoken in Burkina, with the most common language, Moore, spoken by roughly 50% of Burkinabé.
The Republic of Upper Volta was established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing colony within the French Community and on 5 August 1960 it gained full independence.