Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. The capital city is Ouagadougou. Its name, adopted in 1984, means "land of the proud and honest people" and recognizes the country's over sixty language groups, with Mooré being the most widely spoken.

Formerly known as Upper Volta during French colonial rule, Burkina Faso has experienced recurrent political instability, frequent coups, droughts, and poverty since gaining independence from France in 1960. The nation’s economy is focused on agriculture and mining, with cotton as a major export; however, it remains one of the world’s least developed countries. Islam is the main religion, practiced by more than half the population.