Why is Burkina Faso considered a landlocked country?

Burkina Faso is considered a landlocked country because it is an independent sovereign state that lacks direct access to an ocean or an open sea.12

Geographically, the country is entirely surrounded by land and other nations, including Mali to the north and west, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, and Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo to the south. Its capital, Ouagadougou, is located approximately 500 miles (800 km) from the Atlantic Ocean.32

This lack of a direct outlet to the sea is a significant factor in the country's economic landscape, as it complicates international trade and increases transport costs for goods moving to and from overseas markets.45