CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND CURRENT CHALLENGES _____________________________________________________________________ Movement (MLN). The elections of December l970 were won by the RDA. Its president, Mr Gérard Kango Ouedraogo, was called upon to form a government, while the secretary-general, Joseph Ouedraogo, was appointed speaker of the National Assembly. The PRA joined the government team. 72. The race for the highest office in the country, which was scheduled to be decided in 1975, saw the two leaders being unable to agree with one another. A crisis ensued, which the army put an end to by assuming power on 8 February 1974. From the time of its establishment, the Government of National Renewal (1974-1976) faced many difficulties, such as drought, the effects of the first oil crisis and border conflict with Mali. On the political front, the government created a National Advisory Board for Renewal (CCNR) and established the National Movement for Renewal (MNR). Trade unions and politicians were opposed to these moves and demanded a return to normal constitutional life. In the face of such opposition, President Lamizana formed a new team. 73. This ‘transitional’ and ‘national unity’ government (1976-1978) – although composed of the representatives of various political and social trends, including the representatives of traditional chiefs – endured for only a short time. This government did take the positive step of setting up a special commission which it entrusted with the preparation of a preliminary, draft constitution. In essence, the text – approved by referendum held in 1977 – set the number of political parties at three. However, the Third Republic lasted only two years. Following the parliamentary elections of April 1978, the first three parties were the UDV-RDA, the Union Nationale pour la Démocratie et le Développement (UNDD) and the Union Progressiste Voltaique (UPV). 74. After the presidential elections held in May of that same year, President Lamizana was elected after facing a runoff. With a narrow majority, Gérard Kango Ouedraogo became head of the National Assembly, and Joseph Conombo was appointed prime minister. Owing to a disputed majority, the regime soon faced various difficulties, the most important of which were trade union struggles. A new coup led by Colonel Saye Zerbo elevated the Recovery Military Committee for National Progress (CMRPN) to power on 25 November 1980. 75. However, the CMRPN rapidly became unpopular because of the restrictions placed on freedom, because of the suppression of the right to strike, and because of measures imposed in order to restrict emigration. Within the army, latent conflict between colonels and captains erupted into open conflict. Soon, some of these military officers appeared on the political scene for the first time. Captain Thomas Sankara’s appointment as secretary of state for information was followed by his stunning resignation five months later. The crisis culminated in a coup on 7 November 1982 and in the establishment of the CSP (1982-1983). 76. Burkina Faso then entered one of the most tumultuous periods in its political history. The young officers were divided into two camps. One of these camps 52