Proclamation of the Republic Date: December 11
Proclamation of the Republic is a public holiday in Burkina Faso.
Proclamation of the Republic is the National Day of Burkina Faso; it is celebrated every year on December 11. Actually, it was on August 5, 1960 that Burkina Faso gained full independence from France. But, because on August it is winter time in Burkina Faso, the government decided to celebrate the Proclamation of the Republic on December 11, the date when Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French community in 1958.
History of the Proclamation of the Republic in Burkina Faso
By 1898, most of the current territory now known as Burkina Faso was controlled by the French. On March 1, 1919, France decided to gather the controlled territories in the upper part of the river Volta as the French Upper Volta. After World War II, several French colonies in Africa were given self-governance rights, and Upper Volta became the Republic of Upper Volta and a member of the Franco African Community on December 11, 1958. Full independence from France was only obtained in 1960. Upper Volta was renamed to Burkina Faso on August 4, 1984 by President Thomas Sankara.
Burkina Faso’s Proclamation of the Republic Traditions, Customs and Activities
During Proclamation of the Republic day, there are several military parades, marches and other manifestations. The country hangs flags on shops and buildings; red, green and gold are the colors for the day. The country’s capital city of Ouagadougou is filled up with military trucks cruising the streets and planes flying by. The president will officially open the celebrations, and the Bukinabe people will join him in celebrating their National Day. Even though there are lavish celebrations sponsored by the government, many cannot help but notice that so much money is spent on one-day celebrations when Burkina Faso is sixth to last place on the Human Development Index.