XT2MD – Burkina Faso

The XT2MD team will be active in Burkina Faso from October 31 to November 11, 2024.
Team – I8KHC, IZ4UEZ, IZ2GNQ, DL8JJ, OK2WX, HB9TOC, IU3PMA, F6IRA, YO8PS, DJ5IW.
Nearest DX Point XT2MD
XT2MD Log Searchsearch They will operate on the HF band and EME.
Through IK2VUC buro or directly QSL.

Waiting for a miracle: Burkina Faso

The Home of Honest People – that’s how this African country got its name. Burkina Faso is located in West Africa, bordered by six neighboring countries and is a landlocked country. Despite the exotic name, the country is virtually unknown on the international stage, does not attract tourists and only appears on news portals during the next coup or civil unrest.

Like many other African countries, Burkina Faso has an exciting past and a horrifying present. The country has gone through a series of independence wars, destruction and poverty: to this day, 90% of the population of Burkina Faso lives below the poverty line. Nearly half of them have AIDS, and according to the Red Cross, the average life expectancy is no more than 45 years.

Yet Burkina Faso is a magical place where despair is intertwined with hope for a bright future, where abject poverty coexists with warm hospitality. Welcome to Burkina Faso: the African homeland of honest people.

Burkina Faso. Author – Antequera.

Hurricane Center: History

The history of this place dates back to ancient times, when the entire African continent was inhabited by nomadic tribes. The modern territory of Burkina Faso belonged to the Mossi tribe at that time, who were warlike in character and quickly drove away all competitors, forming a state similar to an independent country (Yatenga). It continued to pursue the so-called “expansion policy” and by the 17th century had conquered most of West Africa.

At the same time, Africa entered the colonial era. The west coast attracted the attention of French missions: by the 19th century, the territory of present-day Burkina Faso had been completely conquered by France and incorporated into the overseas colony of Upper Volta.

The colonists did not take into account the temper of the local population: unlike in neighboring countries, a resistance organization (the African Democratic Union) was formed almost immediately. Its members called for freedom from colonial rule and united in the fight for independence. However, this organization did not achieve any success.

But in the mid-20th century, under international pressure, France was forced to recognize Upper Volta’s partial independence. The country was granted the right to self-determination, its own parliament and constitution. As expected, Upper Volta finally declared independence in 1960, becoming the first West African country to break free from its colonial history.

It must be said that French colonies have always had a strong desire for independence, which is reflected in all of France’s former colonies. Whether this is due to France’s overly harsh policies towards the local population or is just a coincidence remains to be seen.

Upper Volta was renamed Burkina Faso and prepared for a bright future. But it never came to pass: the country has experienced dozens, if not hundreds, of coups, revolutions, and seizures of power. The most recent conflict in Burkina Faso was in 2015, when the presidential palace was seized by the National Guard a week before the upcoming elections and sitting lawmakers were arrested.

XT2MD. Burkina Faso. DX Expedition logo.

The vast prairie: nature and climate

Burkina Faso is almost entirely located on the African Mossi Plateau, 500 meters above sea level. The country’s terrain is monotonous and flat: it is rare to find hills that are no more than 100-200 meters high. But there are many rivers: more than 20, the largest of which are the White Volta and the Black Volta.

However, Burkina Faso still faces a shortage of drinking water during the dry season: most rivers are shallow or completely dry. All this is obviously not conducive to the richness of plants, given the geographical characteristics of the region: plants here are quite scarce. Grasslands dominate, with occasional single trees – wood is considered a scarce material in Burkina Faso, so most of the forests here have been cut down.

Animal species are not abundant, and local residents are also involved. Lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo are valuable commercial resources, and no conservation measures can help. The only place in Burkina Faso where animals can feel safe is the W National Park on the border with Benin.

Burkina Faso. Author – Jean Michel.

The harsh reality: what the future holds

Burkina Faso now lives on humanitarian aid. There is a lot of aid, a lot – but the locals think it is not enough. In fact, two generations have grown up here, unaccustomed to working for the benefit of their motherland, but waiting for another handout from kind Europe. Of course, there is no tourism here: the country has gone through coup after coup, few historical monuments have been destroyed, and there is almost no infrastructure.

At the same time, Burkina Faso is one of the richest regions in the world. The reserves of gold, copper, titanium, nickel and precious stones are enough to feed the entire western region. We can only hope that over time they will stop relying on international aid and start building a real honest people’s state.

XT2MD. Where is Burkina Faso located. Map.