To the Point
Burkina Faso on the Brink
The nations of West Africa won independence from colonial powers in recent decades. When the European rulers departed, they did not leave stable institutions behind. Now, West Africa is a region of continuing military coups.
By Warren Olney • • 9m ListenThe nations of West Africa won independence from colonial powers in recent decades. When the European rulers departed, they did not leave stable institutions behind. Now, West Africa is a region of continuing military coups.
A street in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso
Photo by Philippe Streicher
Burkina Faso is a country of 17 million people, landlocked in West Africa. Yesterday it suffered its ninth military coup since 1960, when it gained independence from France. John Mukum Mbaku is senior fellow with the Africa Grown Initiative at the Brookings Institute and professor of economics at Weber State University. He's a native of the Central African country of Cameroon and travels often to Africa.
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- 42:38Burkina Faso on the BrinkYou’re reading this
Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Benjamin Gottlieb
Reporter, Fill-in Host
Christine Detz
Producer, 'To the Point'
Paul von Zielbauer
Co-founder of Geezer magazine, former producer for To the Point and Which Way LA?; former reporter for the New York Times
John Mukum Mbaku
Brookings Institution / Weber State University
The full episode
3 of 3Trump Gets Jumped at GOP Debate- 1:33The Fed Makes a Decision on Interest Rates
- 8:18The Showdown in Simi Valley
- 42:38Burkina Faso on the BrinkYou’re reading this