Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo

president of Burkina Faso

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo was a military officer who served as president of Burkina Faso from November 1982 to August 1983. He came to power following a coup that ousted Colonel Saye Zerbo. Ouedraogo's government was characterized by internal divisions between conservative and radical factions. The radical faction, led by Captain Thomas Sankara, seized power in a coup on August 4, 1983, establishing a National Revolutionary Council with Sankara as head of state. Ouedraogo's presidency was brief and marked by political instability, ultimately leading to Sankara's rise to power.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Thomas Sankara
…du Peuple; CSP), headed by Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo. This post provided him with an entryway into international politics and a chance to meet with leaders of the nonaligned movement, including Fidel Castro (Cuba), Samora Machel (Mozambique), and Maurice Bishop (Grenada). Sankara’s anti-imperialist stance and grassroots popularity
Read More
…du Peuple; CSP), headed by Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo. This post provided him with an entryway into international politics and a chance to meet with leaders of the nonaligned movement, including Fidel Castro (Cuba), Samora Machel (Mozambique), and Maurice Bishop (Grenada). Sankara’s anti-imperialist stance and grassroots popularity
Read More

Burkina Faso
Independence of Burkina Faso
Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo as president. The Ouedraogo government soon split into conservative and radical factions, with the radicals seizing power on August 4, 1983. They set up a National Revolutionary Council (CNR), with Capt. Thomas Sankara as head of state.
Read More
Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo as president. The Ouedraogo government soon split into conservative and radical factions, with the radicals seizing power on August 4, 1983. They set up a National Revolutionary Council (CNR), with Capt. Thomas Sankara as head of state.
Read More