Maurice Yaméogo

First president of Upper Volta from 1959 to 1966

Maurice Nawalagmba Yaméogo (31 December 1921 – 15 September 1993) was the first President of the Republic of Upper Volta, now called Burkina Faso. He proclaimed the independence of the country on 5 August 1960, and also tried (but failed) to create a union between Ivory Coast and Upper Volta. On 3 January 1966, he left the presidency due to a nationwide strike.

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