Maurice Nawalagmba Yaméogo (1921–1993) was the first President of the Republic of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso). He led the former French colony to independence in 1960 and presided over its initial years as a sovereign nation. His rule was characterized by the consolidation of a one-party state, a controversial lavish lifestyle, and harsh austerity measures that ultimately led to his overthrow by the military in a popular uprising.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Maurice Nawalagmba Yaméogo |
| Born | December 31, 1921, Koudougou, French Upper Volta |
| Died | September 15, 1993 (aged 71) |
| Political Party | Voltaic Democratic Union (UDV-RDA) |
| Key Titles | First President of Upper Volta (1959–1966) |
| Independence Date | August 5, 1960 |
| Successor | Lieutenant-Colonel Sangoulé Lamizana |
Early Life and Political Ascent
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Mossi Heritage: Yaméogo was born into the Mossi ethnic group, the largest in the region. He was educated at the prestigious Minor Seminary of Pabré, which trained many of Upper Volta’s future political elite.
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Colonial Administration: After leaving school, he worked as a shipping clerk for the French Colonial Administration, a prestigious post that provided him with security and administrative expertise.
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Political Organizing: He became active in the late 1940s, and by 1957, he had risen through his party, the Voltaic Democratic Union (UDV-RDA), to become Minister of the Interior, the second most powerful position in the colonial government. Upon the death of the head of government, Ouezzin Coulibaly, in 1958, Yaméogo became the acting head of government.
The Path to One-Party Rule (1960–1966)
Yaméogo was elected President of the Government Council in 1959. When the country achieved full independence from France on August 5, 1960, he became the first President of the Republic of Upper Volta.
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Elimination of Opposition: Almost immediately upon taking office, Yaméogo worked to eliminate all political opposition. He purged opponents from his party, dissolved rival political factions, and amended the constitution to establish a single-party system under the UDV-RDA, consolidating immense executive power in the presidency.
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Cult of Personality: By the 1965 presidential election, he was the sole candidate, purportedly winning over $99\%$ of the vote. Yaméogo fostered a strong cult of personality around himself, maintaining a lavish and extravagant lifestyle that was sharply at odds with the severe poverty of the landlocked nation.
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Controversial Policies: He was known for making impulsive decisions, including a high-profile, scandal-ridden divorce and immediate remarriage to a 22-year-old former beauty queen, a move that alienated the influential Catholic Church.
Downfall in the 1966 Coup
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Economic Crisis: By 1965, the country faced a massive budget deficit, exacerbated by poor economic management and the president’s spending.
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Austerity Measures: Yaméogo implemented a severe austerity plan, including new taxes and a highly unpopular proposal to cut civil servant salaries by 20% (up to one-fifth).
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Popular Uprising: This measure proved to be the final catalyst. In late December 1965, mass demonstrations and a nationwide general strike, organized by the powerful trade unions, erupted across the country. The military and police refused to fire on the protestors.
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Resignation: Unable to contain the popular revolt, Yaméogo declared a state of emergency and, on January 3, 1966, was forced to resign. He was replaced by the military’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-Colonel Sangoulé Lamizana, in a bloodless coup that established military rule.
Yaméogo was imprisoned until 1970 and spent his later years in internal exile before relocating to Côte d’Ivoire. He died in 1993 on a flight back to Burkina Faso.