EXECUTIVE SUMMARY _____________________________________________________________________ challenges weighing against good governance and SED and, more particularly, the dismantling, during the era itself, of the administrative and social structures of Upper Volta in 1932. The various parts of these structures were attached to Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Niger. They had been dismantled to meet the manpower needs for the development of export and industrial crops for the benefit of the coloniser, until 1947, which is the year of its reunification. Its status as an autonomous republic was restored in 1958 on the eve of its accession to independence in 1960. 2.2 The post-colonial period (1960-1991) saw three republics and six exceptional regimes. The most troubled period (1982-1987) started in 1982 with the advent of the Council of the People’s Salvation (CSP) and the assumption of power, in 1983, by Captain Thomas Sankara as president of the National Revolution Council (CNR, 1983-1987). This period was marked by profound social reforms. The most notable of these were the territorial and administrative organisation, the division of the country into 13 provinces, and the creation of urban sectors. The country changed its name to Burkina Faso on 4 August 1984. The name means the ‘fatherland of men of integrity’. Nevertheless, the social reforms initiated by the CNR were met enthusiastically by all the Burkinabe. However, internal divisions within the CNR led to the overthrow and assassination of Thomas Sankara. 2.3 With the advent of the Front Populaire in October 1987, Captain Blaise Compaoré led the country towards the building of a constitutional state, the creation of a multiparty democracy, the establishment of republican institutions and the introduction of participative political governance. A new constitution was adopted in June 1991. It established the pillars of good democratic governance and this made 1991 an important year in the political history of the country. 2.2 Current dynamics and their problems 2.4 One of the major political problems and challenges is the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law. The efforts made in this regard are commendable. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go to consolidate the democratic process, to bring about the effective separation and independence of constitutional powers, and to move toward real multiparty politics. A sense of remarkable stability based on a kind of political ‘locking’ is affecting the observation of the system of governance in Burkina, and this carries some risks. The second challenge is the canker of corruption. It creates mistrust between the governors and the governed, and separates the governance of the majority party from the citizens. The third challenge is involving women and youth in the developmental process as fully-fledged partners and stakeholders. The last major challenge is presented by the traditional nature of democratic and political governance, which allows only limited sustainable human development to citizens. 5